Chapter 9 · “That’s Finn.” “That’s what it wants you to

“That’s Finn.”

“That’s what it wants you to think.”

“Then prove it.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can’t.”

“You want proof?” Elias turned her toward him. “Fine.”

He took the charm from her hand.

Nora reached for it, but he caught both her wrists and pinned them against his chest.

The contact triggered the curse.

Pain slammed through her.

Not a stab. Not a cut. It came in waves, each one dragging a voice behind it.

Mara.

Jonas.

Ilya.

Tessa.

Names she didn’t know. Names she had never heard. Names spoken by people who sounded terrified, furious, or too tired to scream.

Nora gasped and tried to pull away.

Elias held her there.

“Let go!”

“Listen.”

“I can’t—”

“Yes, you can.”

The pain surged again. His chest vibrated beneath her palms. His heartbeat was too fast, too strong, matching the frantic rhythm under her own ribs.

Another name struck her.

Calder.

A woman sobbed.

“Please, don’t put him in the line.”

Then another.

Riven.

A man shouted, “You promised us a choice!”

Nora’s breath hitched. “What is this?”

“Every name the grid took.”

“Why am I hearing them?”

“Because your mark is open.”

“Close it!”

“I’m trying.