Chapter 38 · “Why?” “Distance. Damage. Stress.” “You left out lies.”

“Why?”

“Distance. Damage. Stress.”

“You left out lies.”

His eyes sharpened.

Mara leaned closer. “Does it hurt more when you lie to me?”

“No.”

The link burned.

Rhys flinched.

Mara smiled without warmth. “Try again.”

He released her hand. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re lying.”

“Both can be true.”

He forced himself upright and headed for the rear exit.

Mara caught the key and followed. “You’re not walking that far.”

“I’m walking to the safe house.”

“Then I’m driving.”

“You don’t know where it is.”

“You’re going to tell me.”

“No.”

She held up the key. “I can toss this into the next rift.”

Rhys stopped.

Mara stepped around him. “Keep up, Calder.”

His stare burned into her back. “You’re going to regret making threats you can’t survive.”

“Then don’t make me test them.”

They left through the service tunnel and reached an abandoned courier van two blocks away. Rhys drove despite the blood soaking his side.