Chapter 10 · Blood Pact Beacon

The flashlight beam didn't waver. Mara stood in the doorway like she had all the time in the world, one hand steady on the light, the other resting on the gun at her hip. Dust swirled in the air behind her from the explosion. She looked at Ivy first, then let her gaze slide to Cain.

"Didn't think I'd find you this fast," Mara said. Her voice was calm. Too calm. "But you made it easy."

Ivy's hand throbbed. The cut on her palm was still bleeding, dripping onto the stone floor. She pressed it against her jacket, but the fabric was already soaked through. Cain shifted in front of her, half a step, his shoulders tense. He was still in that in-between state, claws out, eyes too bright.

"You're not taking her," Cain said.

Mara tilted her head. "Wasn't asking permission."

Ivy's heart slammed against her ribs. She could feel the blood pact burning under her skin, a hot thread tied somewhere deep in her chest. It had been a dull ache before, easy to ignore. Now it felt like a live wire. She sucked in a breath and the pain spiked.

Cain's head snapped toward her.