Chapter 9 · I’m not shopping

"I’m not shopping," Cael said.

The broker’s eyes slid to Mara. "That’s the girl with the bounty."

Mara placed two fingers on the knife hidden beneath her sleeve. "Call me a girl again and lose the tooth."

The broker chuckled. "I like her."

"You don’t know her," Cael said.

"I know she’s worth enough gold to buy this whole tunnel."

Cael stepped forward. The broker’s smile died.

"Name your price for the order," Cael said.

"You know the toll."

"I’m not paying it."

"Then you’re not getting the paper."

Mara glanced at the locked iron door behind him. A thin red line of warding magic ran around the frame.

"What’s the toll?" she asked.

The broker looked pleased. "One secret from the night lord. One from the spellbreaker."

"No," Cael said.

Mara turned toward him. "You don’t get to decide for me."

"I do when the secret can be used to kill you."

"Then pick a better secret."

The broker tapped the door with one finger. "You have ten seconds. After that, the Crown crews upstairs get invited down."

Mara studied Cael’s face. He stood still, but the bond carried the strain under his skin.