Chapter 6 · The Thirteenth Page

"Say his name again."

Dax has my wrist pinned to the archive shelf and the lock between us is burning straight through bone.

"You know his name," I snap. "You knew it thirty seconds ago. Leo. My brother. Try to keep it in your head this time, Judge."

"I don't—" His fingers tighten. His eyes are flat. Dead. Like he's already decided I'm a stranger he has to kill. "Who is Leo?"

The lock pulses. White-hot. I bite down till I taste blood.

"Stop it," I hiss. "Stop forgetting. You're not doing this on purpose? Really?"

"I'm not doing anything." He slams me harder into the shelves and old paper rains down on us. "You tell me who he is or I put you on your knees and run the ID myself."

"You already ran it!" I jerk against his grip and the chain of light between our wrists snaps taut. My vision whites out. "Three loops ago you carried me out of a fire for him. Remember that? No? You don't remember any of it?"

His jaw locks. He stares at my face like he's trying to read a language he used to know.

"Mara," he says finally.