Chapter 23 · He turned the page. His face went still

He turned the page.

His face went still.

"Riven."

"Don't."

"Read it."

"No."

I stepped into him and shoved one finger against his chest. His coat was warm beneath my hand. His heartbeat hit hard against my knuckles.

"Read. The. File."

"If I read it, you will try to fix it."

"That is usually what people do when they find out something is broken."

"You don't know what fixing it costs."

"I already lose a year every time I pull you back from the edge. You don't get to scare me with a price tag."

His hand closed around mine.

"You lost another year at the gate."

The words stole my next breath.

"What?"

"When you used your mother's power. The pact took payment."

"You knew?"

"I felt it happen."

"And you said nothing?"

"You were fighting for your life."

"I am always fighting for my life around you!"

The black flame burst out of his arm.

He dropped to one knee.

The fire struck the floor and raced across the chamber, climbing the shelves. Files slid free and burst open midair. Pages spun through the heat, covered in dates, names, and red corrections.

Riven's teeth clenched.

"Get back."

"No."