The Life-Leash Pact

I only meant to steal the dying stranger’s power—not bind my life to his. The moment I touched Riven Ash, black fire tore into my veins, and a second heartbeat began inside my chest. Now the exiled heir can’t survive more than ten steps from me, while every time I save him, I lose a year of my life. Hunted by the city and betrayed by his own blood, Riven orders me to help expose the coup—but the closer we get, the harder it becomes to tell whether his burning touch is a threat or the only thing keeping me alive. And the power I thought I was stealing may be something ancient waking inside me. To stop the black flame from consuming the city, I must choose: break our life pact and let Riven die—or give him the rest of my life and become the monster everyone fears.