Vance'

pale and drawn. But somewhere in the depths of that haunted reflection, a tiny, hard em

ealing mark on my neck. The money he'd left sat on the nightstand, a monument to

ffice, her expression a mixture of surprise and disda

busy," she sai

I replied, my voic

ated, then reluctantly buzzed his office. A moment later,

n't look up as I entered, letting the silence stretch, a petty display of power meant to

ned back, his eyes cold and assessing.

placed the wrinkled bills neatly on the

s shot up i

I said, my voice quiet but fi

credulous laugh. "What could you

meeting his gaze without flinching. "

or a schemer, but as an unknown quantity. The fear and desperate hope were

tle of Luna, and not the menial labor of an Omega. I want a post that wil

searching for the tr

ilation. I will become a ghost in your life. I will never approach you or Nora again. I will never

I knew, incredibly tempting. An end to my p

another one of your pathetic ga

t you can try me. If I break my

ted. "Fine," he conceded. "The pack archives need an attendant. Report there tomorrow." It was

id, the formal title a d

first victory a bitt

the door. "The mark. I don't want anyone

he could still find new ways to hurt me. I didn't turn around. I simply nodded once, a