Chapter 10 · The Warden's Old Route

"Step back, Mara. Now." Dax's palm slammed into my shoulder and pinned me to the vault wall. Stone bit into my back, cold through my coat.

"Get off me!" I twisted, nails scraping leather. "You don't get to decide for me!"

"I do when he's looking at you like that," he snapped. He didn't even look at me. His eyes were locked on Leo.

Leo stood in the Warden's silver plate. Light caught the edges and threw it across his face. My brother's face. Ten years harder. No warmth left.

"Leo?" My voice cracked. "What the hell are you wearing? Look at me!"

"You're late, Mara," Leo said. His voice was scraped raw. "And you still bring a dog on a leash. I expected more from the key."

"The key? What are you talking about?" I tried to shove past Dax. He was a wall. His chest brushed my back, heat and rain and old leather coming off him in waves.

"Don't move," Dax breathed against my ear. Low. Desperate. His breath was hot on my skin. "That's not your brother anymore. That's a ghost of a failed loop."

"What failed?" I whipped my head toward him.