Chapter 24 · The Army Kneels

"Rafe!"

I threw myself between him and Marek's blade.

The knife slammed into the stone beside Rafe's ribs. Sparks spat across the floor.

Rafe caught my waist and hauled me back. His burned hand seared through my coat as he shoved me behind him.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Keeping you alive. Try not to make it difficult."

Marek ripped his blade free. Blood ran from his palm where the black fire had kissed him, but his polished council smile stayed in place.

"There she is," he said. "The brave little traitor. Throwing herself in front of the exile she swore was innocent. How touching."

"You missed his heart," I said. "That has to sting after all those years of calling yourself a soldier."

His smile tightened.

Behind us, Seren drove her rifle into a tribunal guard's knee. The man dropped with a cry. She shoved the barrel beneath his jaw.

"Nobody moves," she barked. "Judges, witnesses, guards. Stay exactly where you are unless you want to learn how fast I can count to three."

The chamber went silent except for the black fire snapping in the archive pit.

Every eye locked onto the torn order in Rafe's hand.