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Skye panted through the pain, still on the ground. One hand gripped his shoulder like there was a wound, but he jerked his chin.

“Go,” he rasped. “I’ll catch up.”

Taly wobbled through another step. Her fingers and toes were tingling and numb but quickly regaining feeling as she retrieved her dagger from the wall. “What happened to‘get behind me, no arguing?’”

Skye attempted a smile. He already had more color. “Move your ass, time mage.”

Taly grinned. It felt good—that belief in her. And something inside her rose to meet it.

She pinched the air above her head. A swift jerk, like she was pulling down a hood, and her dress and cloak were suddenly gone, replaced by dark leggings, sturdy boots, and a black leather coat cinched at the waist with a red silk sash. Her hair was a simple braid.

Skye arched a brow. She shrugged and said, “I got dressed twice today,” as she strode for the door.

“Promise you’ll be careful,” Skye called after her.

The shop bell jangled as Taly wrenched open the door.

“Taly, I mean it—say the words back to me.”

She drew her pistol in one smooth motion, her fingers tightening around the grip. “I’m offended at the lack of trust here.”

“Taly.”

“Okay, fine,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “I’ll be careful.”

Skye breathed a sigh. “Thank you.”

“Within reason. And at my discretion.”

“Wait, Taly, that’s not—”

But the door swung closed as she dashed into the alley.

“Of all the indignities…”

Taly’s head whipped towards the sound.

“Why did it have to be a corpse?” A crash sounded from farther down the alley. “Ew. Gross. Ew.This is so unsanitary.”

Aneirin was a stooped shadow hobbling towards the mouth of the alley, cursing under his breath.

“Shit. Fuck. Ew.”

She moved toward him, raising her pistol.

She couldn’t get close enough to let him touch her—not after seeing what happened to Skye. And magic clearly wouldn’t work either. Spells just seemed to slough right off him.

Bullets, however—bullets were always reliable.

The gunshot erupted through the alley.

Farther down, Aneirin stumbled into the wall. “Whatthe fuck?!You shot me in the ass!” He was indeed gripping his ass as he started hobbling away. “Who the hell does that?”

Taly took aim a second time. Fired.

The borrowed body lurched. “You realize this vessel is dead, right? I can’t feel pai—”

She fired again.