rters did not look like a mob den. It l

ement across the street, I could feel the raw, suffocating hum of monster magic radiating from the foundation. The vibration traveled up through

tials provided by my shadow client. They were flawless. They had to be. If the security

cent of wet asphalt and exh

y, replaced by a thick, oppressive silence. The lobby was a cathedral of cold black marble and vaulted ceilings. Massive stained glass windo

uits, but their shoulders were too broad, their jaws too square. Shifters. I kept m

a stunning woman with porcelain skin and eyes th

ice steady. "I have a noon appointmen

he silence stretched, thick with tension. My heart hammered against m

er voice was a melodic purr that made the hairs

keycard. I took it, careful

s built, but the magical pressure was far worse. The higher I went, the thicker the magical residue became. It

chimed and

esthetic was terrifyingly elegant. There were no busy interns running around with coffee. There

nk. He gestured for me to follow him down a long co

id. He did not open the door for m

ing my own internal shields. I reached

But the view was not what caught my attention. The room was a chaotic mix of luxury and violence. Stac

in a leather chair with his boots pr

chaos. He had tousled dark hair and a sharp, cruel smile. He was tossing a

ap shut in his palm. The metallic click echoed

ract," I replied, stepping further into the ro

ng his legs off the desk and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the

eyes trailing over my simple gray blazer and skirt. "But Silas is busy ruini

mly. I remained standing. Taking a seat without being of

he sharp edge with his thumb. "Let us skip the resume. I do not care what law school y

list

ine. "A big debt. They miss a payment. The traditional human law says we take them

human lawyer, I would be thrown out of the windo

m time to hide. If a ghoul faction misses a tribute payment, you do not send a summons. You send an enforcer to repossess their territory. Yo

is smile faded, replaced by a lo

u know our terminology. You kn

sure those rules are legally binding within the supernatural comm

ead Binding magic. The world shifted. The colors in the room drain

reakable cables of pure gold tethering him to the room around him. The golden threads of loyalty. They were anchored deeply into the floorboards,

ht before the magical strai

he desk. It landed with a heavy thud. "Most humans walk in here trembling

the temperature in the m

ch. The heavy oak doors behind me swung open without a single sound. The hair on the back

a voice

ised volume, but the sheer authority in that single word made Leo snap to attention. The

turned

s stood in t

was perfectly knotted. A dark silk pocket square rested in his jacket. His jaw was a harsh slash of sharp angles, and his dark hair was

ooked like a dark god who had dressed

or. He radiated a dangerous, elegant stillness. He smelled like winter nigh

. Silas adjusted his pristine left cuff link as h

id. There was a defensive edge to his voice,

t look at his brother. His golden eyes were locked onto me. The we

gany desk, standing next to Leo's chair. He looked me up and down. It was not a look of desire. It was an

tongue sent a dangerous shiver down my spine. "Neutral mediator

d myself to maintain eye contact. Looking aw

, his voice dangerously low. "You have no family. No known syndicate a

"Which makes me the best person to ha

n eyes narrowed. He was looking for a cra

, his loyalties, his debts. If I was going to steal the Primal Ledger fr

mind, pushing past the terror, and

e familiar gray wash of my magical vision. I looked at Leo first

fted my gaz

ed brea

bs so hard it bruised. A cold

was no

rings of debt, thick ropes of deceit, or bright lines of loyalty. It was the fu

Malphas ha

ere was no red. There was no black. He possessed no loyalties, no debts, and no emotional te

unreadable. He was an anomaly. A mo

sudden intake of breath, the slight widening of my eyes as

ark smirk touched the corner of his

e hands on the desk. He held my gaze, his go

ee, Sienna?" S

st knew exactly

trapped in

or's

ying stillness? And what does it mean that Silas has no threads at all? Is it powerful magic, or is he truly a void? Let me