Chapter 22 · I said don't

"Move."

"I said don't."

The hunter's gauntlet snapped open.

I threw the stolen rifle.

It hit him in the side of the helmet. His head slammed into the floor.

Mira flinched and swung at me.

I caught the baton inches from my face.

"You're welcome," I said.

"You could've warned me."

"I did."

"You said my name."

"That was the warning."

"That's not how warnings work."

"It worked. You're alive."

She yanked the baton. I held on.

The weapon pulled us together. Her hand was inches from mine. The blue light slid over her knuckles, over the small scar beside her thumb, then climbed the line of her wrist.

"Let go," she said.

"You're going to swing again."

"Maybe I am."

"Then no."

"You don't get to control every room you walk into."

"I do when everyone else is trying to kill the kid."

Her eyes cut toward the bathroom.

That was the mistake.

I twisted the baton out of her grip and caught her by the waist before she could recover. She slammed into me, one hand bracing against my shoulder.

Her breath hit my neck.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

The building groaned around us.