Chapter 30

Fordham lashed out with a rope of flame this time, a tendril of red that slashed around the girl’s leg and dragged her back to the ground. Beneath the mask, her eyes widened in alarm and a flash of pain. But she didn’t even cry out. As if fire was no match for her. She easily maneuvered away, and as soon as she was free, she wrenched open the balcony doors and slipped outside.

Fordham flung himself after her. But in the span of a few heartbeats, the girl had already scaled the far wall and disappeared out the back.

He came back inside, cursing vividly. “Who the hell was that?”

“Marc’s killer,” Maya croaked as she tried to get to her

Then, the memory of all her pain came crashing back down around her and she fell back in a heap on the floor once more.

“Gods, you’re injured,” he said, crouching before her.

“She stabbed me… in the shoulder,” Maya said, pulling back her cloak to reveal the wound beyond.

Fordham inspected it, thoroughly and efficiently with little compassion. She winced th