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My gaze darted around, looking for any alternative to becoming a daredevil and leaping from one building to the next as if I belonged in a superhero movie.

Where was my stuntwoman?

I caught sight of a rooftop access door on the large structure in the center of the building. If Shyrlivi were climbing the fire escape, they were probably coming up the stairs inside too.

Still, taking my chances on the stairs was better than jumping.

I ran toward it.

The door flew open before I made it halfway, and I slid to a stop.

Three Shyrlivi burst the doorway.

I turned, but the two that had climbed over the ledge had now closed the distance I’d put between us.

The three at the door started toward me.

I turned and ran toward the opposite side of the rooftop, hoping maybe the gap to the next building wasn’t so wide.

Fat chance.

The gap was double that of the other side.

“Give it up,” the woman closest to me said. “Master wants you unharmed, so don’t make us disappoint him.”

I turned and faced her, determined to sound more confident than I felt. “I don’t wanna go.”

“This isn’t up for debate,” the man at her side said, waving a clawed hand.

“Now be a good little half-breed and come away from the ledge.”

I bared my teeth at him, not correcting his mistake. I was over three-quarters Shyrlivi. Asshole.

I could hear the sounds of the street below.

Rinlora’s mother had finally told me we were in the Jinphni District, which explained why I hadn’t seen much activity when we’d first come here during the day. Now that the sun had started to set, the streets came alive.

Just in time to witness the Rae pancake.

The woman closest to me took a step forward.

I stepped back, the heel of my shoe catching on a raised seam in the roof. I stumbled before catching myself, but it was all they needed.

They all moved at once.

I barely had time to react.

I ducked beneath the first set of hands, slipping between two Shyrlivi before they could close the gap. Someone caught the back of my shirt and yanked hard enough to choke me.

I twisted, pulling my arm through the shirt until the fabric tore, and I stumbled forward.

My scalp flared with pain when someone grabbed my long hair.

I kicked backward and connected with something hard, forcing the hand to release my hair and giving me the chance to run.

I made it several feet before someone slammed into me.

My palms hit the roof first, followed by my knees. I knew it should have hurt more than it did, especially with the skin scraping away from my palms, but the pain felt distant and muffled by the adrenaline and fear consuming me.