Chapter 10 · One Round Left

"Stop walking, Cade. You’re bleeding through the seal."

Cade Rourke didn’t slow down.

He slammed his shoulder into the iron gate and dragged Lena through the gap. The spirit-lock crashed shut behind them. Black symbols flared across the bars.

Something hit the other side hard enough to bend the metal.

Lena grabbed Cade’s coat. "That was your plan? Walk into a lockdown and hope the gate likes you?"

"It opened."

"It barely opened."

"You’re welcome."

His voice stayed flat, but his hand pressed tighter against his ribs. Blood slipped between his fingers and ran down his wrist.

Lena saw it.

So did the hunters.

Three hounds stepped out of the alley ahead.

They weren’t animals. Not really. Wet black armor formed their bodies, with strips of moving shadow sliding beneath it. Pale masks covered their faces. Each mask held one silver eye.

Chains dragged behind them, sparking over the stone.

The nearest hound tilted its head.

Then all three charged.

"Left!" Cade snapped.

Lena moved left because his command came with a blade flying past her cheek.