Chapter 11 · The Equal Claim

"If you pull that needle out, you'd better know where we're going next." Adrian's hand locked around my wrist before I could shove the bloody memory spike into my coat.

"I know exactly where we're going."

I twisted free and held his stare.

"The harbor vault."

Adrian leaned against the wall, one palm clamped over the cut in his chest. Blood had soaked through his shirt and spread beneath his coat. The contract mark on my wrist burned every time he took a hard breath.

"Marlow sealed the harbor," he said.

"He sealed the docks. He didn't seal my mother's evidence."

"Mara—"

"Don't use that voice with me."

I stepped close enough to smell the sharp, metallic bite of his blood.

"You had a needle buried in your chest, my mother's oath mark on it, and a memory address hidden inside. You don't get to say my name like you're the one asking for trust."

His jaw tightened. "I'm asking you to stay alive."

"Then stop making me guess which part of the truth is going to kill me."

For half a second, his eyes dropped to my mouth.

His fingers tightened against the wall beside my shoulder. Close.