The Veil Between Lies

chapel was c

ike breath on glass, and the faint hum of the Code

ne shoulder, watching her with that maddening calm. The k

," Elira began. "But that

to the Codex, then back

each stride echoin

ving you something

ched a b

ooph

acking like ice. "Is that your idea

om inside his coat-Council-sealed parchment,

e asked, instincti

te San

ood ra

contract," she said. "

orrected. "Legal

ms. "You want me to

nder me, yes. But not ownership. This isn't about

Council would never hono

proxy. You'd have Council immunity-under clause 77 of the Spellbearer Accord. As lon

y applies to known spellcaste

fake your rehabilitation. An

re asking me to become

ng you brea

do you get

ccess. To the Codex. To P

tch to dry parchment. She didn't kn

d, "And what hap

uld feel the tension stretched taut bet

come for you. And I wo

f I sa

ice dropped

touch you witho

sounded. Hated that he was offering her safety

d that some small part of

magic cost? A Pacte Sanguinem isn't

tly. "It has to be wil

w? We just... sign it? Prick our fi

t-a ceremonial silver dagger with etchings of la

. The contact sent a jolt up her spine-magic f

er blood. Speak yo

he blade. "L

an no

d sliced across her palm.

"bind my magic, my truth, and my legacy to

stirred, pages rustli

and did the same. His vo

name, and my power to her cause-n

pping onto the contract. The scroll flared g

ike that-i

lt it immediately: the pull. The link. The sensa

d, almost stag

ed. "You fe

d. "Ever

epped forward without thinking, her fingers bru

dn't," he

kno

er of the

r. It was a man breaking his own rules. And Elira kissed him b

wall, hands fisting in his shirt,

her lips. "You're goin

ready

, bruised with want, the tension s

change anyth

his jacket. "No. It

Elira's

the Codex open before her. The bloo

pa

t

po

ack of her mind. Distant emotions. Shadows of

x turned

ge glowed i

re the veil. Blood joined in

overed ove

sn't pr

as pro

hone

ing Revenant. You're not s

reply. She

sn't a

declarati

tly as if stirred by a prese

odex. The passage had stopped glowing

one may fract

st pro

arn

again: Blood joined in t

whispered, v

in the roo

ghts d

window, Elira saw a flicker of move

magic coiled at

th

ept

rred at the tip. Lying on t

falling. Didn't remembe

se to it, and she felt a cold

ng was

had ca

nister Harlan's

lenched, arms folded. They had summoned him h

d, slamming a surveillance transcr

eplied coolly.

her. You've compromised

n any of us will sur

acidic. "You think she'll protect you whe

t blink. "She

le

The woman in red robes stepped int

ed. "You've fallen fo

"You built nothing. You

ll see how loyal you are w

r pray it turns on me first. Because

Apartment – On

Elira's door with b

a word, holding the Co

e look at her face, and sa

a page," sh

door behin

we did. It knew

room. "Have you se

nt to retrieve th

ly. He stepped forward, examin

ic," he muttered.

m wh

ts. They're testing the boundar

gaze. "Then we

nod

," she added, pulling the sea

day she died. I never o

lded the

t if you remember who you

nched. "She knew.

him, the Codex tr

et's bu