Chapter 20 · The Lion's Den

"Put the knife down, Vira." Ronin caught my wrist before I could drive it into the guard's throat.

"Take your hand off me."

"Not until you stop trying to get us killed."

The guard's blood ran across the steel floor between our boots. My pulse slammed against Ronin's fingers. The half-formed mark under my collarbone burned like someone had pressed a hot coin into my skin.

He leaned closer, his breath rough against my cheek. "Kyle's medical sub-level is three floors below us. If you cut through another patrol, the whole academy will know we're here."

"The whole academy already knows. You broke your oath in front of half the command staff."

His grip tightened. "I broke my career. Not the mission."

I looked past him at the unconscious guard. "Mara has maybe an hour before Kyle opens her skull. You want me to walk?"

"I want you alive long enough to reach her."

"You don't get to decide that anymore."

His eyes dropped to my mouth. Just for a second. Then they hardened again.

"You're right," he said. "You decide. But if you run ahead, I drag you back."

"Try it."

The corner of his mouth moved.