Chapter 6 · What Mom Left Behind

The iron door buckled inward with a scream that made Mara’s teeth hurt.

Ronan shoved her behind him so hard her shoulder hit the nursery wall. Dust rained from the cracked ceiling. The old painted moon above the crib split down the middle.

“Stay back,” he said.

Mara still had the knife in her hand. The blade shook. Not because of the hunters outside. Because five seconds ago she had seen Ronan on his knees beside her mother’s body.

“Move,” she snapped.

“No.”

“You don’t get to order me around after what I just saw.”

Another hit slammed into the door. Metal groaned. A silver eye appeared in the crack.

“Mara Voss,” somebody called from the hall. Male voice. Flat. Official. “Step away from the fugitive. You are not under arrest.”

“That’s comforting,” Mara muttered.

Ronan’s hand went to his side. Blood had soaked through his shirt again, dark and wet around the ribs. He looked pale under the grime, but his shoulders stayed square.

The hunter outside kept talking.

“You have been exposed to unlawful memory work. The Council can treat you. Open the door.”

Mara laughed once. It came out wrong.

“Treat me?” she called.