Chapter 16 · The First Counter-Mark

"Mara, move!" Nolan grabbed my coat and yanked me away as the gate split down the middle.

A black line tore through the stone arch. Debt marks flared along the walls, one after another, bright red and angry. The floor kicked under my boots.

Soren caught my wrist before I hit the ground.

His fingers were cold. Too cold. His eyes found mine, but there was no recognition in them.

"Don't pull me," I snapped.

"Then stand up."

"You don't remember me. You don't get to order me around."

His grip tightened. "I remember enough to know this place wants you dead."

The gate groaned above us. Chunks of black stone dropped into the passage, crushing the spot where my head had been seconds earlier.

Nolan shoved between us. "Save the lovers' quarrel for when we're not under a collapsing contract."

"We're not lovers," I said.

Soren looked at me for one hard second too long. His thumb pressed against the inside of my wrist, right over the pulse.

"That sounded defensive," he said.

"That sounded like you want me to break your nose."

"You can try."

Another crack split the ceiling.

Nolan pointed through the broken arch.