Chapter 8 · The Saint Bites Back

"Put the seal in the tower, Mara. Now." Julian shoved me behind the steel console as bullets punched through the glass above us.

"You’re bleeding."

"I noticed."

His hand clamped around my wrist before I could reach for him. Warm blood had soaked through his shirt and slicked his fingers. He pulled me lower, covering my body with his while another round cracked against the railing.

"Let go," I snapped.

"You want to argue while Celeste’s people shoot through the walls?"

"I can do both."

His mouth tightened. Then he shoved the black metal seal into my palm.

The Vale crest burned against my skin.

Not hot enough to hurt. Hot enough to remind me the city was still listening to Celeste’s voice through every screen, every emergency speaker, every stolen signal in Gray Harbor.

Julian leaned close. His breath brushed my ear, rough and uneven.

"The tower can take the signal back," he said. "But only if you plug that into the core."

"And what happens to you?"

"You already asked me that downstairs."

"You lied downstairs."

"I was busy being shot."

A guard burst through the service door.

Julian moved before I did.