Chapter 13 · Black-Market Toll

"If that beam touches you, don't move." Nima Brock shoved Tess's wrist flat against the iron table. "Not even to blink."

"Great advice," Tess snapped. "You want to tell me why the illegal magical scanner is pointed at my hand?"

"Because the legal ones ask questions before they kill you."

The golem across the room lifted its brass head. Three blue lenses clicked open. Its stone fingers locked around the handle of a crystal lantern, and the lantern began to hum.

Tess tried to pull free. Nima's grip tightened.

"I said don't move."

"You also said this place was safe."

"I said it was safer than the palace. Don't confuse the two."

The room had one door, no windows, and enough black-market wards carved into the walls to make Tess's teeth ache. A chain ran from the table to a ring in the floor. It wasn't attached to her yet, but the chain was close enough to make the message clear.

Nobody came here because they had good options.

Nima leaned over the table. Her gray braid brushed Tess's knuckles. "The scanner checks three things. Your identity. Your contract. Your remaining time.