Chapter 16 · Hounds on the Tail

"Move, Mara!" Rhys slammed her against the alley wall as three silver bolts punched through the bricks beside her head.

Dust burst across her face. Rhys's arm locked over her chest, pinning her in place while his body covered hers. His breath hit the side of her neck, hot and rough.

"Get off me," she snapped.

"Gladly. The second you stop trying to get us killed."

Another bolt screamed past. This one clipped Rhys's shoulder and buried itself in a drainpipe. The metal pipe cracked. Black water sprayed across the pavement.

Mara shoved at his ribs. "I didn't tell you to stand there."

"You were about to run straight into the kill lane."

"I was going to break the ward."

"You were going to die under it."

"Big difference?"

Rhys caught her wrist before she could push again. His glove was torn. Blood ran between his fingers and dripped onto her sleeve.

Mara looked past him. The alley mouth was blocked by a blue corporate transport. Its headlights burned through the dust. Four figures stepped out, all wearing black armor and mirrored masks.