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“Getting the fuck out of here,” Novak said after a laugh. “Surprised you aren’t either.”

“This isn’t over yet.”

“Kyer didn’t pay me to face off against that brute. I’ve already gone above and beyond what was promised to me.” He attempted to push past Jarek who had him by the shoulder. He growled. “I already convinced the guards to let Rin go after he was captured. What else do you expect me to do?”

“Where is he now?” Jarek asked.

“Went searching for the girls on his own. I told him it wasn’t worth it, but he was insistent.”

Jarek regarded him. “And Caiven?”

“On his way and he’s pissed.” Novak’s carmine eyes drifted to Lily. “Take what you have and leave.”

Lily looked to Jarek, but he wasn’t intently focused on Novak. With a sigh, he released him. Novak backed out of his reach.

“Wonderful,” he exclaimed. He flicked his hand off of his forehead. “It’s been a pleasure working with you, Atwood. Give Toman my best! He knows where to send my copper.”

He jogged down the tunnel and out to the wilds.

“Bloody coward,” Jarek sneered. “Wait—”

Lily was already moving past him, following the large concrete-lined tunnel deeper into the armory. Her chest burned with a slurry of rage, worry, and remorse she needed to relieve as quickly as possible.

“Lilith—Gods, will you slow down?” Jarek caught up to her pace. “You still want to do this?”

“You expect me to just leave them here?

“I don’t suppose you’d forgive me if I made you?”

That drew a small smile to her lips. “Afraid not.”

The narrow space, large enough to drive a single carriage through, quickly widened, and soon the sound of their feet bounced off the flat walls and around the tall columns reaching to the top of the ceiling. A landing that she assumed gave access to the estate above lined the wall, overlooking the collection below. Three vehicles occupied the space—one plated with ghostsoil, two simple boxy ones behind it. What was left of Caiven’s guns were placed on the wall.

Jarek hooked his arm in hers and dragged them both behind the frontmost vehicle. Not a breath later, gunfire rained down on them. Sparks flew and ricocheted as they waited in a tense crouch, backs against the front bumper through the incessant clanging. Jarek adjusted like he was going to act. Lily held him tightly in place, knowing damn well she couldn’t really, but she hoped the point would be made.

He glanced at her, bemused.

“Save your energy,” she said. “But can you distract them?” She jutted her chin to the right. “Over there?”

Jarek’s confusion eased as did his posture. He turned his neck, and without showing any sign of using the Serpent, the shouting intensified, and the focus of the gunfire’s attention changed toward absolutely nothing.

Lily slipped herself from his side and moved to the nearest column. She faltered before peering around, realizing the scope she’d assumed her new rifle to have didn’t exist.

She flew to the next column, close to another vehicle, and adjusted the diameter of the plasma to be narrow and quiet. Her eyes raced over the imperfections in the cement beneath her feet as she steadied herself.

They’re in your way. They’ll kill you without a second thought. Don’t waste your breath.

The thought sent adrenaline pumping through every curve of her veins. She gripped the gun so tightly that if it were any other metal, her nails might’ve left marks in the chrome. The thrum of her pulse drowned everything else, and she whirled around her cover, found the first body closest to her, and took her shot. They dropped, and she fired her next one before the guard had the sense to understand what happened.

The chaotic racket in the armory rushed back to her senses, and she dove ahead of the vehicle in front of her. The sound of the incoming fire died, making way for dwindling chatter. Feet shuffled above, and she thrust the rifle to the adjacent walkway and fired twice, stilling the guard spying on her position.

Everything fell quiet. Lily’s legs burned, and her brow beaded with sweat. She exhaled, slow and steady, lifting her head to meet Jarek’s irate gaze.

Lily, desperate to keep her nerves and his annoyance buried, winked at him. The smile that broke across Jarek’s face was involuntary, obvious from the laugh she could see but couldn’t hear. He tipped his head to her right, and Lily followed, seeing nothing, then feeling his warmth at her side.

“One left,” he whispered. “I’ll draw her this way.”

Lily crept to the next vehicle and readied her sights in the space between the two.