Chapter 26 · Eleven Seconds for Ten Years

"Take the blade, Mara. Now." Calder shoved the black-handled knife into her palm and locked his fingers around hers.

Behind him, Nia screamed.

Not a scared scream. A hurt one. The kind that tore straight through bone.

Mara twisted toward the sound, but Calder caught her by the waist and slammed her against the vault door. His chest hit hers. His breath brushed her cheek, hot and sharp with blood.

"Let go of me."

"You get one save. One." His grip tightened. "Pick her, or pick your brother."

The knife shook between their hands.

Mara stared past his shoulder. Nia was on her knees beside the time engine, both hands clamped over her side. Silver light leaked between her fingers. Three contract hunters stood around her with hooked blades pointed at her throat.

At the far end of the chamber, the brother-vault pulsed behind a wall of glass.

Ten years sat inside it.

Ten years stolen from Joren.

Ten years Mara had crossed half the city to get back.

"You said the vault was open," she snapped.

"It was." Calder glanced at the hunters. "Then the city changed the locks."

"You’re the executioner. Break them.