Chapter 20 · The Taboo Trade

"Give us Calder, and the girl keeps breathing." The voice behind the black door curled through the tunnel, calm as a knife against Mara's throat.

Mara shoved Nia behind her. Her knees nearly buckled, but she locked them anyway. The last eleven seconds were gone. So was the sharp little tug in her fingers that usually meant time was waiting for her to steal it.

"Try asking nicely," Mara said.

Calder caught her wrist before she could step closer to the door. His hand closed around her hard enough to stop her, not hard enough to hurt. His pulse beat under her skin.

Then hers matched it.

One beat. Two.

Nia stared at their joined hands. "That's getting worse."

"Let go," Mara snapped.

"No."

"I wasn't asking."

Calder leaned close, his shoulder blocking the door from her view. His breath brushed her temple, warm and controlled. "You burned your last reserve to pull Nia back. You can't bargain with whatever's in there."

"And you can?"

"I can give it what it wants."

The door groaned.

"Calder Rook," the voice called. "Your death was signed before your first breath. Walk through, and the girl survives.