Chapter 18 · It was deeper. Older. It rolled through the

It was deeper. Older. It rolled through the gatehouse and made the metal under Mara’s hands vibrate.

“Give us Mara Venn.”

Dax’s arm went rigid around her.

The crowd repeated it.

“Give us Mara Venn.”

Mara looked past his shoulder. “The oath knows my name.”

“It knew it before tonight.”

“You knew it before tonight.”

“That’s different.”

“Is it?”

He turned his head. His mouth was close to her ear, his breath hot against her skin.

“Listen to me,” he said. “When I move, you run left.”

“There’s a wall on the left.”

“Run into it.”

“That’s your plan?”

“It’s better than yours.”

“My plan involves not running into walls.”

“Your plan got us locked in front of the Ninth Gate.”

“Your plan got a key shoved into your chest.”

His gaze dropped to her mouth for half a second.

The pause was tiny. It still hit her like a shove.

Then his expression hardened again. “You noticed.”

“I’m observant.”

“You’re reckless.”

“You’re bleeding on me.”

“Focus.”

“I am focusing.”

His eyes narrowed. “On what?”

“On the fact that you’re one bad breath away from trying to kill me.