Chapter 9 · The Girl Inside His Missing Memory

"Show me the mark." Cael's hand closed around Lia's wrist before she could pull the chain away.

His grip was hot. Too hot. The red links under her skin pulsed once, then burned bright enough to paint his knuckles crimson.

"Take your hand off me."

"You said your family paid to cut my memory." His thumb pressed over the newest link. "Prove it."

"I found a ledger. That's proof."

"A ledger with a Vey seal." His eyes dropped to her mouth for half a second before snapping back up. "Your seal. Your bloodline. Your crime."

Lia yanked against him. The chain between their wrists tightened, dragging Cael half a step closer.

His chest brushed hers.

They had barely made it out of the car. Sable had shoved them through the archive's service door while town wardens stormed the market above. Now they stood in a narrow records room packed with shelves, chained boxes, and old contract plates. One wrong sound would bring the wardens down on them.

One wrong answer might make Cael do it first.

"I didn't buy your missing memory," Lia said. "I didn't even know you had one until tonight."

"Your family knew.