Chapter 17 · Untitled Chapter

"Get your hand off her!" Julian slammed into Celeste before her fingers closed around my throat.

The impact sent all three of us into the broadcast console. Sparks jumped across the floor. My mother’s frozen face vanished from the wall of screens, replaced by a red emergency seal.

Celeste recovered first. She drove her elbow into Julian’s ribs.

He grunted and staggered.

I didn’t give her time to turn on me. I caught her wrist, twisted hard, and shoved the edge of my blade beneath her jaw.

"Move," I said. "Try it."

Celeste smiled at the knife.

Not at me. At the blood running down Julian’s side.

"You still think he’s protecting you?" she asked. "That boy was raised by the man who killed your mother."

My grip tightened. The blade kissed her skin.

"You already used that line."

"No. I used the short version." Her eyes slid toward Julian. "Ask him what his father did in the Vale house. Ask him why Julian was the only Knox left standing."

Julian pressed one hand to his ribs. His fingers came away red.

"Mara, we have less than three minutes."

"Shut up."

"The three command hubs are still active.