Chapter 16. The Weight of Ash

Magnus smirked, but his eyes burned. “That’s the fire in you talking. Fire without control burns everything around it.” His gaze slid to Riven, cruel. “You should know that, ghost girl.”

Heat flared through her chest, rage pushing words past the lock in her throat. “He didn’t owe you his life. Nobody does.”

Magnus’s laugh was low, bitter. “You think debt is about choice? Debt is survival. Hale forgot that. And now you’re following his footsteps.”

Axel stepped in front of her, his eyes blazing. “Say one more word about her, and I swear—”

Magnus cut him off with a raised hand. The Wolves’ engines snarled to life, a chorus of warning.

Riven’s pulse screamed. One wrong move and the night would explode.

Magnus took a step back, a smirk curving faintly. “Not tonight. You want to challenge me, Axel? Do it where it counts. Until then…” His eyes cut back to Riven. “Stay out of my sight, ghost girl. Or you’ll find out what real fire feels like.”

He sw