Chapter 27 · Her Mother's Last Lie

The alley smelled like burnt wire and old blood. Mara pressed her back against the wall, watching the screens across the street flash their faces over and over. Her chest hurt. Her legs shook. Ronan was beside her, breathing too hard, and the red glow under his skin hadn't faded since they crawled out of the maintenance hub.

"We can't stay here," she said.

He didn't answer. His eyes were locked on the nearest screen. The bounty under his picture kept climbing. Fifty thousand marks. Sixty. Seventy.

"Ronan."

He blinked. Looked at her. The red dimmed just a little. "Yeah."

"We need somewhere off the grid."

"There's nowhere off the grid in this city."

Mara's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out. Unknown number. She almost didn't answer. Then she thought about the tunnels, the seal, the way Silas had looked at her before the altar collapsed.

She swiped.

"Mara." Inez's voice. Flat. Tired.

Mara's throat closed up. "How did you get this number?"

"I need to see you."

"You sold me out."

"I know."

"You handed me to Silas."

"I know." Inez paused. Mara heard traffic in the background, distant sirens. "I can get you proof.