Chapter 9 · Run from the Nest

"Don't you dare die on me." Mara caught Calder by the collar as his knees hit the floor. "I just got you back. You don't get to make that complicated."

Calder's hand clamped around her wrist. His grip was still strong. His fingers were also shaking.

"Then stop dragging me into knives," he said.

A black spike punched through the wooden door behind them. The tip stopped an inch from Mara's cheek.

She jerked Calder sideways. The spike ripped free, spraying splinters across the room.

"Great," Mara snapped. "You can complain after we live."

"I wasn't complaining."

"You were bleeding on my boots. That's complaining with extra steps."

Calder leaned against the wall, one hand pressed to his ribs. Blood seeped between his fingers. Not much. Too much anyway.

The bond between them had gone cold ten seconds ago.

Not cool. Not numb.

Cold like a hand reaching through her chest and closing around her heart.

Mara could feel every ragged pull of his breath. Each one scraped across her nerves. When he stopped breathing for half a beat, her vision pinched white.

"Calder." She shoved his hand away from his side. "Let me see it."

"No.