Chapter 21 · You'd complain about either option

His gaze held mine. "You'd complain about either option."

"Try it and find out."

For one dangerous second, he didn't move.

Then the conduit screamed again.

Elias pulled me upright and shoved me behind him as three black blades punched through the wall.

Council hunters tore through the brick.

"Run!" he snapped.

"You first."

"Nora—"

A blade sliced through his coat and cut across his side. He staggered.

I caught his arm. "You're hurt."

"I noticed."

"Can you fight?"

"Can you stop asking stupid questions?"

The hunters poured into the passage. Their masks were white, their eyes lit with council blue.

One raised a purge rod. "Warden Kane. Step away from the outlaw."

I drew my short blade. "Come make me."

Elias glanced at me. "That was not the plan."

"Your plans suck."

"You just admitted you want to arrest me."

"I can arrest you after we survive."

"You can try."

The first hunter charged.

I ducked under the purge rod and drove my elbow into his throat guard. The impact jolted my injured shoulder. He stumbled, and I hooked his ankle.

Elias moved beside me like the pain wasn't there.