Chapter 12 · Neither do you

"Neither do you."

"That's not a reason to gamble."

"It is when the house already marked me for deletion."

Her breath touched my cheek. She smelled like metal, dust, and the bitter herb packed beneath her collar to hide spell residue.

Her eyes dropped to the blue window hovering between us.

"If you do this," she said, "you follow my commands. No improvising. No forcing the link. The moment the contract heats up, you stop."

"You sound worried."

"I'm being practical."

"Your hand is shaking again."

Her fingers went rigid on my arm.

Nima made a small choking sound. "Oh, I like her."

"Nobody asked," Selene said.

"I wasn't talking to you."

I pulled my arm free and picked up the dead mana cell. Its glass was cold enough to sting.

"What do I do?"

Nima pointed to the crystal. "Hold it. Tell the system you want to inspect the object. Then make the link copy its status."

"And if it refuses?"

"Try again."

"And if it hurts?"

"Try faster."

Selene's stare cut toward Nima. "That is not helpful."

"You want helpful? Buy a healer. You want cheap? You get me.