Chapter 19 · Sisters Keep Their Knives Close

"Down!"

Rhys grabbed her collar and yanked. Sona's head whipped sideways half a second before the spear tip screamed past, close enough she felt the air split.

Steel shrieked off stone behind her. She rolled, came up with her blade already out, already kissing his throat before her brain caught up to her body.

"Don't," she said, breathing hard, "ever grab me again."

"You're welcome." He didn't move. The edge sat against his skin like it'd been there before. Like he knew the weight of it without looking.

Behind her, the gate breach was pouring black shapes into the courtyard. The Nine Bells holding the line three-deep in front of the tower stairs. Her sisters. Mira on the left flank, small and vicious, blade work like a hornet sting. Toma on the right, built like a door, taking hits that would've folded anyone else.

Sona's knife stayed at his throat one more breath. Then she shoved off and turned back to the fight without a word.

Worse than the knife, somehow.

Rhys went after her.

That's when he saw it.