The drive home from the shopping district took them through the older quarters of Kharsen, where the streets were narrower and traffic was lighter.
Kate was humming softly, her hands relaxed on the steering wheel, with one of the bags from their shopping trip in the back seat.
Jolthar watched the city pass through the passenger window.
They turned onto a quieter street lined with warehouses and closed businesses—the kind of area that was being slowly gentrified but hadn't quite made the transition yet.
Three vehicles pulled into their path.
Kate hit the brakes instinctively.
"What the—"
Men emerged from the vehicles before they'd fully stopped. At least a dozen of them, moving with coordinated purpose, blocking the road. They wore dark clothing, moved with the particular confidence that came from assuming numerical advantage mattered.
"Stay in the car," Jolthar said quietly.
