Chapter 41 · The Runaway Carriage

"Drop the rifles!" Dorian shoved me behind him as every gun in the signal car swung toward my chest.

The soldiers stared at the order flashing across their wrist screens.

My name glowed beneath it in red.

MARA QUILL. ARREST ON SIGHT.

"You heard the order," Captain Rusk snapped. "Step away from Vale."

Dorian's shoulder pressed against mine. Heat seeped through his torn uniform. Blood ran from the cut above his eyebrow and disappeared into one eye.

"She stays with me," he said.

Rusk laughed. "Your protection contract expired when command named her a traitor."

"The contract has thirty days left."

"Not if the officer who signed it has been declared compromised."

Dorian raised his pistol.

Six rifles clicked in answer.

My fingers caught the back of his coat. "Don't shoot."

His head turned a fraction. "You giving me orders now?"

"I'm trying to stop you from getting us both killed. Try listening for once."

His jaw locked. Then he looked at the soldiers.

"Rusk, your order came through a dead relay. Northern Command's line was cut twelve minutes ago."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"No." Dorian's thumb slid along the side of his pistol.