Chapter 19 · If you say anything smug, I'll break your fingers

He stepped behind me. His chest touched my back, solid and hot. One hand closed over mine and pressed my palm to the seal.

The other settled at my hip to keep me steady.

My breath caught.

"If you say anything smug, I'll break your fingers," I warned.

"You'd miss them."

"I'd adapt."

The seal flashed.

Pain punched through my hand. The stolen black fire answered from inside my veins. Riven's grip tightened, and his mouth came close to my ear.

"Don't pull away."

"It's burning me."

"I know."

"Then let go."

"If I let go, it burns through your arm."

"You always have a horrible option ready."

"I've had practice."

The iron door shuddered.

Behind us, Evelyn reached the ruined bridge. She stood on the last intact slab, looking across the gap with furious calm.

"Talia," she called. "Open that door and he dies."

The seal flickered.

Riven went rigid behind me.

"Don't listen," he said.

"How does she know?"

"Because the door is connected to the ledger."

"What does that mean?"

"It means the system will ask for a life."

The black handprint beneath mine split into two lines. One formed beneath my palm. One formed beneath Riven's.