Chapter 12 · I already chose

"I already chose."

"You chose to hunt me."

"I chose to keep you alive."

"Same difference."

A warning tone shrieked from the walls.

Mara pulled the black key free. It was no larger than her thumb, but the room reacted to it. Every red line turned toward her hand.

The hunters moved in the hall.

Rhys seized her wrist. "Tell me exactly what to do."

She stared at his fingers around her skin. "You finally decided to listen?"

"I decided I hate dying in ugly rooms."

"The key has to touch the main mark."

"Where?"

"Under the floor."

"Of course it is."

"You have to break the seal with your power while I guide the key."

"And the part where you become a ground wire?"

"That happens after."

"No."

"Rhys—"

"You said we need both of us. So use both of us."

Mara blinked. "You don't know what you're agreeing to."

"Neither do you."

"I know enough."

"You know how to make marks. You don't know how to survive them."

The words hit a place she kept locked behind her ribs. She shoved two fingers into his chest.

"Careful."

"What? You'll turn me in?"

"I might."

"You won't.