Chapter 24 · Moonclaim - Chapter 24: Blood Key

Her arm burned. Not the ache from before. Fire.

Ivy pressed her back against the lab wall, breath coming short. The hunter mark on her forearm glowed red through her sleeve, pulsing like something alive under the skin. Leon was across the room, phone to his ear, low and fast. She caught fragments. "—how many—" "—north exit, now—"

She couldn't hear over the ringing in her skull.

The mark flared hotter. She bit down on a sound, nails digging into her sleeve. It had never done this. Not once in four years of hiding. Now it was awake, and it wanted something.

Leon hung up. Crossed to her in three strides. His hand closed around her wrist, careful, like she might shatter. "We're leaving."

"Leaving where?" Her voice came out thin.

"Anywhere that's not here." He was already pulling her toward the side door, the one that led to the underground garage. "Rena's contact says there's a hunter unit two blocks out. They're moving fast."

Ivy's stomach dropped. "They saw the footage."

"They saw you." His jaw was tight. "And now they know you're alive."

The mark burned hotter. She stumbled, caught herself against his shoulder.