The Devil Wears a Signature Ring

one else was

She gripped the phone tighter, holding it out towa

otage. His expression didn't change, but his body tensed. Mar

t. "I checked every corner. That person-whatever

have to," Luc

hat mean?" I

one... or something... that's not

I'm being haunted

That footage wasn't taken by our sec

that wearing eyeliner and chasi

g targeted," Luc

. "That's your id

time. You still

sharply. "Who is it?"

aze drifted to the fireplace, where l

last. "But if I'm right...

ent into lockdo

e shadows. Steel barriers slid down over the windows. The curtai

r seemed to

ough the front door with a laptop tucked under one

stylist?"

a grin. "The

look like

like trouble,

till gripping her phone. Her mind reeled from the footag

ing things in her career, bu

gure had be

Amaya pulled up the footage on a larger screen

n. "Can you c

tch

re came into clearer focus, though th

e," Luca sa

pped the

pointed. "On

Identica

tched into it w

hanced t

the Devere

somethi

A serpent eati

it mean?"

t means someone's resurr

"What the hell is

ook a

the atelier. They forged the first signature rings from melted relics and cursed metal.

aid. "The ones who wan

heir names from the archives. Swore to retur

w they'

e. "And they're

se "for safety," Isla sat in the window alcove,

beautiful in the vault. S

fr

her

t lie. You were

mber and threw the

ed the door,

again, staring at the mirrored ring

nize the crest

es

n sa

slowly. "I

htened. "Impossi

r saw t

he council

urned. "He sh

arm brioche. She padded into the kitchen barefoot, expecti

rapped in a mid

you in?"

ed permission. This house was

her arms. "It

r movements slow and practiced. "But you're sleeping

oing m

going to get

nk I'm d

ignorant." And

passed h

ffee with people

didn't change. "You'll

hy

into the ring's history disappear

g room-Luca, Marcus, Amaya, Seraphina, and now

the next image

e. Zo

the edges, half-erased, but clearly marked

" she explained. "This was Elias Deverea

la said. "Y

w flexed.

ou didn't mention t

was supposed

lier Fire. It's encrypted, but the visible portion says, "Th

ain?" Is

loodline," Marcus said. "O

t do you

"I think he wanted t

, Isla cou

ere was no steam. And each time, when she wiped it, she s

.. tw

it sm

di