Chapter 31 · I Didn't Order It

"I didn't order it." Dorian's stare went flat. "I got here too late to stop it."

That answer hurt worse than a confession.

"Convenient."

"You want to fight me? Fine. Do it after we get out."

"You keep saying ‘out’ like you own every exit."

"I do."

He kicked the glowing pin beneath a fallen cabinet, then caught my wrist and dragged me toward the rear stacks.

A sharp crack split the archive.

The ceiling shook. Smoke poured under the main doors, gray and fast, carrying the stink of burning paper and hot metal.

"Iris," I said.

"She started the fire."

I dug my heels into the floor. "She did what?"

"She set half the archive burning to open a route through the records wing."

I yanked against his grip. "Then we go to her."

"We get the order first."

"She’s trapped."

"She knows these halls better than either of us."

"You don’t get to decide what risks she takes."

Dorian stopped and stepped in front of me, blocking the passage.

Smoke clawed at my eyes.