Chapter 7 · You just told me not to touch you. Now you're giving orders? Pick one

"You just told me not to touch you. Now you're giving orders? Pick one."

The flame climbed over his shoulder. His breath hit the side of my neck, too hot, too fast.

"The relic will make it worse."

"Then release me."

"If I do, you'll run."

"Correct."

"You can't get ten steps away."

"Watch me."

I drove my heel into his boot.

His arm loosened. I twisted, slipped under it, and grabbed the silver relic from the floor.

The moment my fingers closed around it, the room snapped cold.

The black fire stopped.

Riven froze three feet away, one hand still lifted. His eyes fixed on the relic in my palm.

I held it up. "Interesting."

"Put it down."

"You said it would make the fire worse."

"It will."

"Then why did it stop?"

"Because you stole its charge."

The silver casing warmed against my skin. A pale blue glow slipped between my fingers. I felt a current rush up my arm, sharp as pins, then settle behind my eyes.

The relic's power folded into me.

Not much. Just enough to understand it.

A binding tool. Old. Illegal.