Chapter 21 · A Dead Name in Black Ink

The contract mark on my wrist isn't red anymore.

It's black. Pure black, like someone burned it with ink that went too deep. And in the center, where Lucien's binding used to pulse, there's a name I don't recognize.

Kael Voss.

I look up. Lucien's staring at my wrist like it just grew teeth.

"What the hell is that?" I ask.

He doesn't answer. His jaw works. His eyes flick from my wrist to the window, then back. For the first time since I met him, he looks like he doesn't have a script.

"Evelyn." His voice is low. Careful. "Don't touch it."

"Don't touch my own wrist?"

"Don't—" He moves fast, grabs my other hand before I can press my thumb to the mark. His fingers are cold. "It's not yours anymore."

I yank my hand back. "What do you mean it's not mine? It's on my skin."

"It was bound to me." He's still looking at the name. "Now it's carrying someone else's signature."

"Wraith's."

He nods once. Tight.

I feel the anger build in my chest, hot and sharp. "So when I tried to break it, I didn't break it. I just handed it to him."

"No."