Chapter 16 · The Saint Puts Mara on Trial

"Drop the seal, Mara, or I turn the whole city against you."

Celeste's voice blasted from every speaker in the broadcast hall. Her face filled the wall-sized screens behind me, calm and bright in her white ceremonial coat.

A red timer flashed beneath her image.

00:09:42.

Nine minutes until the charges went live. Nine minutes until every bomb hidden under Gray Harbor's central district got blamed on me.

Julian shoved me behind the console as three armed guards rushed through the side doors. His hand closed around my wrist. Warm. Hard. Too close.

"Don't fight me," he said.

"You're pinning me to a machine. You don't get to ask nicely."

"I'm trying to keep you alive."

"Then stop helping them."

His jaw tightened. He glanced at the black seal in my other hand. The Vale family mark pulsed once against my palm, hot enough to sting.

Celeste smiled from the screens.

"Mara Vale has been identified as the architect behind today's attacks," she said. "She stole the Saint's seal, murdered loyal officers, and planted explosive charges beneath our city. If she refuses to surrender, the charges will detonate one by one.