Noah looked down at his arm, at the red lines crisscrossing his skin. They stung, but not like his leg had. Do I need her to fix this? he thought. It’s not that bad. I could just leave it. But then he remembered how fast his leg had gotten worse, how the black had spread, how helpless he’d felt. What if these get infected, too? What if it’s the same thing, just slower? He flexed his fingers, and the scratches pulled, sharp and tight. But what if she’s just, I don’t know, doing this for some other reason? He glanced at her again, at the device in her hand, at the way she was waiting, patiently. She fixed my leg. She didn’t have to do that.

  He rubbed his arm, feeling the heat of the scratches under his fingers. I don’t know her, not really. Ravenskin did, but not me. But she’s good at this. And I’m out here, alone, without any medicine. He sighed, his shoulders slumping.

  I don’t have a choice, do I?

  “Okay,” he said finally. “Go ahead.”

  "Alright," she said, opening her bag and digging through it. "Can you grab that for me? There’s a pomade in that metal box," she added, pointing distractedly at the box.

  Noah turned to grab the box, his fingers brushing the edge. But it didn’t feel right. Something was off. The way her eyes darted to the box, then back to him, was strangely quick, like trying too hard to make it look harmless, inconsequential.

  He hesitated, his hand hovering over the lid. And then it hit him.

  Déjà vu.

  He’d done this before. Opening a box, not knowing what was inside. The memory flashed, painful and vivid, and his heart kicked into overdrive. His fingers froze, locked in place. It couldn’t be. She’s trying to—

  Noah didn’t have time to finish the thought. She moved fast, faster than he thought a girl like her could, like a viper striking. One second she was kneeling in the dirt, and the next she was on him. Her weight slammed into his chest, knocking the air out of him, and he hit the ground hard, his naked back scraping against rough rocks and sticks. Before he could understand what was happening, she had him pinned, her knees digging into his sides, her hands moving quick. He caught a flash of metal and then there was a knife at his throat, cold and sharp.

  “Where’d you hide it?” she snapped, her easygoing tone from earlier completely gone. Her free hand patted down his pants, fast and rough, not caring where it went. “Don’t think I won’t find it. I’ll slice you open if I have to. Wouldn’t be my first time.”

  Noah couldn’t believe what was happening. “You psycho! What the hell are you doing?” he yelled, swatting at her hands to get them off his crotch.

  The girl stopped, cold rage reddening her face.

  “Listen, Ratskin, I don’t have time for whatever stupid game House Ashen has you playing. I need that gear you’ve got. I asked nice the first time, and you didn’t give it up, so now I’m taking it.” She jabbed the knife at the base of his nostrils, in an upward angle. “I’m going to fuck up your pituitary gland. Understand? Puberty is over for you. You’ll be stuck as a weak child—"

  Noah didn’t think, his hand moved instinctively, seizing the wrist that pressed the knife against him.

  He invoked [Mana Drain] and began siphoning her, hard. Her mana surged out of her, fast and alive, flooding into him with a beautiful intensity. It was sweet and warm, nothing like the cold essence of the shadow monster.

  The girl’s expression shifted in an instant. All color drained from her face, her eyes widening in horror. She was so consumed by terror that she couldn’t even scream, her mouth was frozen in a grotesque mask of excruciating pain, as if she was stricken with the kind of fear only imminent death could produce.

  “I am a fist. And it’s Ravenskin, get it right, you moron,” Noah whispered with terrible calm.

  He tightened his grip, twisting her wrist, and then he moved. He pushed, hard, rolling her to the side, on her back, and then he was on top of her, pinning her to the ground.

  She didn’t fight back—she couldn’t. She was frozen, her body rigid, her eyes locked on his, wide with terror, unblinking. He kept draining her, the energy pulsing through him, and he could feel her growing weaker, her mana slipping away. She let out a quiet whimper, but she didn’t move. No, she couldn’t move. Noah could sense her struggling, trying to break free, but she was trapped—whether by her own fear or his draining ability, he wasn’t sure.

  “I’ll drain you dry if you lie. Understand?” his voice low, steady.

  She didn’t answer. Her mouth was still open, her eyes still staring up at him. He could see the raw terror in them. If even teenage girls like her were so ruthless in this world, then he’d need to match their cruelty to survive. And he would, even if he didn’t want to.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Understand?” he said again, louder this time, more commanding.

  She nodded, just a slight movement, barely there.

  He held her there, his hand still on her wrist, the mana still flowing, and it felt good. Too good to stop. Her life force felt addictive, and he didn’t want to let go. I could keep going. I could take it all. She deserves it, doesn’t she? After what she just did? And If I let her go, she’ll tell the Houses what I am.

  Her eyes welled up with a fresh wave of distress as she realized that despite her submission, he didn’t stop. His chest tightened at the sight of her tears and he stopped. He released his grip, his fingers loosening, and the flow of mana ceased. His hand was shaking, just a little, and he pulled it back, sitting up, still straddling her. She didn’t move. She just lay there, breathing hard, her chest rising and falling fast, her eyes still wide, still fixed on him.

  “Why did you try to kill me?” Noah asked her.

  “Could you blame me?” she said, her voice cracking a little, like she was trying to sound tough but she was still weak and shaken by his draining. “I mean, look at you. What the hell did you do, Ravenskin? Your mana readings are off the charts. Anyone would have tried to harvest your core.”

  So she didn’t’ know. But this makes no sense. Why would the robbers know he had no core, but she didn’t?

  Noah blinked at her, his brain scrambling to catch up. “You can read my mana with that device?” he asked, nodding toward the device that lay scattered on the forest floor among the other stuff she used to heal his leg.

  “Yes,” she said, her voice sharp now, like she was annoyed he even had to ask. “And I can see it, too, if I focus hard enough. That’s how you killed it, right? You were the bait. You used yourself to bait the shadow creature. Right? That’s how you were able to get close enough and kill it. By the fangs, Ravenskin, you need to tell me what you did to get this much mana in you. I need this. I’ll—I’ll pay whatever you want. I’ll give you anything, you know I’m good for it.”

  Her words came fast, tumbling over each other, and you could feel the desperation radiating off her. She was shaking. Noah leaned back, trying to put some more space between them.

  “I just told you. I am a fist.”

  Her expression transformed. Her eyes went hard, her lips pressing into a thin line. She looked pissed. No, more than that—she looked hostile, like he’d just insulted her. “If you don’t want to collaborate, what are you going to do? You’re going to kill me?” she snarled, her voice rising. “If you’re going to do it, do it now. I’d rather die than listen to more of your lies.”

  Noah stared at her. Lies? I wasn’t lying. He’d just told her the truth, or at least as much of it as he understood.

  She saw him hesitate, and her expression shifted again, softening just a little. “Well, if you’re not going to kill me, get off me,” she said, her voice dry now. “This is seriously awkward.”

  Noah realized that he was in fact, still on top of her. He pulled back fast, sitting to the side, his face burning. She was holding her wrist, rubbing it like it hurt. Noah felt a pang of guilt.

  “Listen,” Noah said, trying to keep his voice steady. “I’m not going to kill you, but you have to swear that you won’t tell anybody about this.”

  She laughed a sharp, bitter sound that made him flinch. “Are you insane? No one will believe me anyway. House Ashen, of all the houses, with this kind of power? Seriously?” She shook her head, her hair falling into her face. “You’re a piece of shit for not sharing how you did it. We could have done a good deal. This is dangerous shit you’re playing with, who’s going to protect you when the other Houses find out? Because they will.”

  "Swear it," Noah said, inching his hand closer to her wrist.

  Her eyes darted to his hand, and she flinched, yanking her wrist back and clutching it to her chest, shielding it protectively.

  She exhaled loudly, defeated. “I swear it by the Emperor’s core.”

  “All of it,” Noah said, knowing he couldn’t trust her. He’d be damned if she used some sneaky trick to weasel out of their deal.

  She rolled her eyes. "I swear by the Emperor’s core I won’t tell anyone that you’re a disgusting gorgora who sucks mana out of innocent girls."

  Noah lifted an eyebrow at the mention of “innocent,” but thought that would do.

  “It’s your turn,” she said in a haughty tone, still holding her wrist.

  “My turn of what?” Noah said confused.

  “Swear you won’t kill me, I’m not having you suck me dry when I turn my back, you vicious little monster.”

  Noah was a bit offended, but he thought her request was fair.

  “I swear by the tide, I won’t kill you,” Noah pledged.

  Her eyebrows scrunched up in confusion. “Why are you swearing by the tide like a pleb? What, did all that draining rotted your brain?” She sighed, shaking her head. "Never mind. Since we’re allies now,” she said, reaching for her bag, “I’ll have you know I found this while I was tracking the gorgora. I assume it’s yours?” Her voice was flat, almost bored, as she held out the black chain necklace, the one Hesjevik had gifted Noah, the one he lost while he was on top of the tree monster.

  “How did you find it?” Noah asked, snatching it from her hand and slipping it back on. Relief hit him like a wave, washing away the tension in his chest.

  She straightened up, looking all professional. “What can I say? I’m very good at my job. I always carry a detector for energy signatures—you wouldn’t believe the stuff I’ve found out here. It’s—”

  Noah’s head snapped to the side. He felt that pull again, stronger this time. He couldn’t see anything, but he could feel it. Something was coming.

  “What?” she said, sounding annoyed. She grabbed her bag, digging through it, and pulled out that device she’d used on the shadow creature earlier. She pointed it toward the forest, her fingers tapping at it like she was tweaking something, her eyes flicking between the screen and the trees.

  “How’d you know?” she asked, her mouth hanging open, still glued to whatever the screen was showing.

  “Know what?” Noah said, still staring into the same spot.

  “Forget it,” she muttered, her voice tired. “Trying to get anything out of you is like trying to get honey from the holy fangs, I swear, Ravenskin, one of these days…” She was already moving, shoving her stuff back into her bag, her hands fast and messy. She tied the leather straps tight, slung it over her shoulder, and took off running.

  “Wait, hold on!” Noah called, stepping after her. “What’s your name?”

  She laughed, that same bitter sound, and shook her head. “As if you didn’t know it,” she said, then vanished into the trees.