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Skye’s lips crooked up. The bright overhead lights played over his skin, tracing over the lines of his body and drawing Taly’s eyes like a lure.

“No, I, uh…” She shook her head. She didn’t know how she was supposed to do this—how to look at him and pretend everything was the same. “I found something at the Swap today that I think you’ll want to see.”

Then, pointedly pulling her eyes away from the wall of muscle in front of her, she explained about Luck, Grizzlethorn, the deal she’d interrupted. And when she was done, she pulled out her purchase.

“No, shit, wait, not that,” she muttered, piling her new records on the bench as she continued to dig through her bag.

Ivain picked one from the stack, turning it over to read the sleeve.

“Ah, here it is.”

She held it up, letting it dangle freely on its string. An amulet with a deep violet stone at its center. Surrounding it was a delicate ring of transparent crystal carved into a rippling wave.

Ivain’s brows shot up the moment he saw it. He stepped closer, taking the amulet from Taly’s hand. Turning it slightly, he let the carved waves catch the light. “Hold on,” he said. “This looks like the amulet we already have. Well, similar. It’s the same craftsmanship, same design. Shadow crystal surrounded by hyaline. Taly, where did you find this?”

“Grizzlethorn,” she explained. “Apparently, about two years ago, someone came to him asking about old riftway keys—wanted him to dig them up. At first, he didn’t think too much of it, but when you showed up with one, Ivain, he started getting suspicious. He thought it was more than just a coincidence. So, he gave us first pick when this one turned up.”

Skye looked doubtful.

“He did,” Taly insisted. “Cross my heart. After I saw him talking to the kid—”

“Kid?” Skye asked.

Shit. “I mean very evil, very large mercenary,” Taly corrected. “He brought me into his shop, and we made a deal.”

“Did you sign anything?” Ivain asked, tone edged with caution.

“No.”

“What did he ask for?”

“The‘right to whisper my name,’” Taly said. “Whatever that means. I haggled him down to a box of fancy chocolates and a case of Arendryl Silver.”

In hindsight, stuffing her pocket universes with every shiny thing that wasn’t nailed down was probably the best decision she’d ever made.

“So, there’s more than one riftway then,” Skye said. There was something in his expression. Something unspoken yetpointed, aimed right at her. “At least, I think that’s fair to assume.”

Ivain nodded slowly. “It makes sense. Different keys must open different riftways. But how many are there? How many more could still be out there, waiting?”

“How many did Grizzlethorn sell to the enemy?” Taly pointed out.

Silence settled over the room.

Skye blew out a breath, shaking his head. “Great,” he said. “So, we’re not just dealing with one mystery doorway—we’re dealing with who knows how many.”

“Indeed, that would seem to be the case,” Ivain murmured. Then he snapped his hand closed around the amulet, pocketing it. Without another word, he reached for his coat hanging on a nearby chair, pulling it on as he turned toward the door.

Skye’s brows drew together. “Where are you going?”

Ivain glanced over his shoulder. “To pay Grizzlethorn a visit,” he said. “I think it’s time we had a little chat.”

The door screamed on its track as he hauled it open. And again, as he rolled it shut.

Leaving Taly and Skye alone.

She could feel it—whatever it was—still aimed at her.

“What?” she snapped.