Chapter 16 · Too late

"Too late."

I dragged the black fire through my hands.

Pain ripped up both arms. My knees hit the floor, but I held on. Riven shouted once, his fingers tightening around me, then the fire tore free from his throat in a twisting strand.

It poured into my palms.

My heart stumbled.

A year vanished.

I knew it the same way I knew when a knife left my hand empty. A clean, sudden loss. One year gone. No warning. No bargain.

The fire collapsed into a coal-sized spark beneath my skin.

Riven fell forward.

I caught him against my shoulder. His breath hit my neck, hot and ragged.

"You idiot," he whispered.

"You're welcome."

"You paid."

"I noticed."

"Why?"

I pushed him back enough to see his face. "Because I hate being told what to do."

His gaze held mine. His hand stayed at my waist, steadying both of us.

"That's your excuse?"

"It's the one you're getting."

Evelyn lifted her weapon again.

Riven turned, putting his body between us and the inspectors. He looked weaker, but the silver had returned to his eyes.

"You have three seconds," Evelyn said.