Chapter 26 · Voidbound - Chapter 26: The Champion's Chain

"You want me to what?" I backed up until my spine hit the cold concrete wall.

Garrick stood between me and the only exit out of this basement, arms crossed, face carved from stone. "Trust me."

"Last guy who bonded a Voidling, you turned him in." My hand dropped to the knife on my belt. "Why the hell would I—"

"Because I'm the only reason you're not bleeding out in a Guild cell right now." He stepped closer. The single overhead bulb threw half his face into shadow. "Rook knows. Mira knows. The whole damn Pit's gonna know by morning. You got two choices—run with me, or die here."

I laughed, bitter and short. "Run where? Every tracker in the city just locked onto me."

"Not every tracker." Garrick pulled something from his jacket. A small silver chain, links so fine they caught the light like water. "This'll mask your signature for six hours. Long enough to get you past the Guild checkpoints."

I stared at the chain. It was real Voidsteel, the kind that cost more than I'd make in ten Pit wins. "Where'd you get that?"

"Doesn't matter."

"It does if it's bait."

His jaw tightened.