Chapter 29 · You already made that choice

"You already made that choice."

His eyes sharpened. "What does that mean?"

"You keep putting yourself between me and every blade, every vow, every cursed hole in this city. You don't get to act surprised when I notice."

For once, he had no answer.

The stairs shook. Stone dust rained down. Somewhere above us, a bell began to ring. Not the clean bell from the bureau towers. This one dragged and cracked, like the metal itself was choking.

Dax pulled me up the last step and slammed the iron gate shut behind us.

The citizens hit it from the other side.

Their palms struck the metal one after another.

"Mara!"

"Open the door!"

"You promised!"

"Don't leave us!"

Dax shoved the locking bar into place. His breath came hard. He leaned against the gate, one hand pressed to his side.

I grabbed his coat and turned him toward me.

"Tell me what that voice meant."

His face went still.

"Which voice?"

"The one that said you swore she'd live."

"Mara—"

"Don't. Don't give me that careful look. You know exactly which one."

He tried to step around me.

I blocked him.

The corridor was narrow. His shoulder brushed the wall.