Chapter 6

VANDA

"We need to move," I said. "Now."

She was still staring at me, the name I had given her hanging in the air between us like smoke that would not clear, and I hated that I did not have time to let her sit with it. The footsteps below were multiplying. Three sets now, maybe four, moving with the particular coordination of hunters who have done this before.

"You said my name used to be Valeria." Her voice was flat, holding steady by pure will. "You don't get to say something like that and then tell me to run."