Chapter 27 · The Killer's Face

"Don't touch that door." Mara caught Cael's wrist before his fingers reached the iron latch. "It's warded."

"I know."

"Then why are you opening it?"

Cael looked down at her hand around him. His skin was cold through his sleeve, but the pulse beneath it beat hard and steady. "Because the people behind it have been waiting for us."

Mara released him and drew her blade. "You could've led with that."

"You would've complained."

"I am complaining now."

"Good. It means you're still breathing."

The door burst inward.

Three Crown hunters rushed through the opening, steel masks hiding their faces. The first swung a chain marked with silver runes. Mara ducked. The chain cracked against the wall where her skull had been a second earlier.

Cael stepped in front of her.

"Move," he said.

"Try asking nicely."

The second hunter drove a short spear at Cael's ribs. Cael caught the shaft with one hand. Black light crawled over his knuckles. The spear split with a sharp pop, and the hunter stumbled back.

Mara shoved past Cael and drove her elbow into the first hunter's throat. His mask knocked against the stone.