Chapter 6 · Run the Drowned Line

The shop went dark. Total, crushing dark.

Mara's ribs screamed where Julian's cut had mirrored itself into her skin. She could taste blood in her mouth even though her lips were intact. The key in her palm was still hot, still whispering things she didn't want to hear.

"Move." Julian's hand closed around her wrist. His voice was low, steady, like he hadn't just announced to five contract hunters that she belonged to him. "Back door. Now."

She yanked her arm free. "Don't touch me."

"Mara—"

"I said don't."

Outside, boots hit pavement. The hunters weren't leaving. They were regrouping. One of them was shouting into a radio, words she couldn't make out through the ringing in her ears.

Julian moved past her toward the counter. His hand was still bleeding, dripping onto her floor in slow, dark drops. She felt every one of them like a punch to her own palm.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Her voice came out raw.

He didn't look back. "I kept you alive."

"By chaining me to you?"

"By making sure they can't touch you without violating a contract older than this city." He grabbed something from under her counter—