Chapter 38 · Whose leash?

Her knife pushed harder.

"Whose leash?"

"Yours."

The corridor seemed to shrink around us. Her body was warm against the wall. Mine was a cold pressure wrapped around her, a shape she couldn't see clearly but couldn't escape either.

She swallowed.

"Explain."

"The Tower doesn't reward trust. It rewards ownership. When you signed, you didn't make me your weapon. You made yourself the anchor for my evolution. Every time I take power, the contract routes a piece through you."

"How much?"

"Enough to keep you alive. Not enough to make you strong."

"You left that part out."

"You didn't ask."

"You manipulative little—"

"Shadow parasite? Yes. You mentioned it."

Her knife snapped up and caught the edge of my face. A thin line of dark matter peeled away.

I let her.

"You think this is funny?"

"No. I think you want to be angry at me because the alternative is admitting you need me."

Her eyes flashed.

"I don't need you."

"Then step away."

She tried.

The contract yanked her back.

Her wrist flared silver. Pain crossed her face before she hid it.

I caught her hand.

Her fingers were cold from gripping the knife.