Chapter 7 · Thirteen Nights

“Get your hand off that lever.”

Calder’s grip locked around Mara’s wrist before she could pull it down. His other hand caught the back of her coat and slammed her against the brass housing of the dead clock.

The impact knocked the breath out of her.

“Move,” she snapped.

“Not until you tell me what you’re about to break.”

“The thing that’s eating the city.”

His face hovered inches from hers. Close enough for her to feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. Close enough to see the thin cut beside his mouth, still wet from the fight below.

“Try again.”

Mara twisted hard. The chain of light around their wrists flashed blue, and pain shot up both their arms.

Calder’s jaw tightened. He released her coat but didn’t let go of her wrist.

“Careful,” he said. “That chain reacts when you lie.”

“Then stop asking stupid questions.”

“You dragged me into a sealed clock tower, picked a lock with a stolen tooth, and started pulling levers marked with execution seals.” His thumb pressed against her pulse. “I’m asking the only question that matters.”

Mara looked past him at the machine.

The old clock filled half the tower.