Chapter 20 · The Ledger's Heart

"Don't touch that."

Mara's hand froze an inch from the console. The screen pulsed red under her palm, heat bleeding through the glass. Jace stood three feet behind her, breathing hard, one hand pressed to his temple like he was trying to hold his skull together.

"You said we end this," Mara said. She didn't turn around. "You said tonight."

"I said a lot of things." His voice cracked. "Can't remember half of them now."

She turned. His face was gray, slick with sweat. The timer on his wrist had burned down to a single glowing line. One reset left. She'd watched it count down all the way here, through the tunnels, past the bodies, past the vault door Silas Wren had left open like bait.

"How bad is it?" she asked.

"Bad." He swallowed. "I don't remember your partner's name. I don't remember what your badge number is. I know I knew it yesterday."

Mara's chest went tight. "It's 4728."

"Right." He nodded, but his eyes were empty. "Right. I'll forget that in ten minutes."

The console beeped. The red pulse quickened.