Chapter 10 · You’re enjoying this

She ducked again. His blade swept over her head and buried itself in the hunter behind her.

"You’re enjoying this," Mara said.

"You’re keeping up. It’s distracting."

"Distracting from what?"

"The fact that you’re still trying to stab me."

She slammed an elbow into a hunter’s ribs. "I can multitask."

The room became too small for six bodies. Boots slipped on broken glass. Spells flashed against the shelves. The broker screamed and crawled under his desk.

Mara and Cael moved as if they had trained together, though neither of them had trusted the other long enough to stand within arm’s reach. When she ducked, he covered her. When his shoulder turned, she knew where the next strike would land.

A hunter came through the smoke behind Cael.

"Cael!"

He turned too late.

Mara stepped between them and took the hunter’s wrist. The man drove his other fist into her side. Pain burst across her ribs, but she held on and twisted until he dropped.

Cael’s hand closed around the back of her neck.

"You hurt?"

"Ask me after we’re not surrounded."

"You should have let him come at me."

"You’re welcome.