Chapter 9 · The Door Wants Blood

"Mara, move!" Julian's hand clamped around my wrist before the tower floor could drop again.

The alarms were still screaming. Every screen around us showed Celeste's smiling face, bright and calm, like she hadn't just stopped Julian's heart in front of me.

I yanked against him. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Not taking it personally." His voice came out rough. His fingers were cold, but his grip still hurt. "Get away from the console. Now."

Behind him, the tower doors slammed open.

Black-armored guards rushed through with shock rifles raised.

Julian shoved me down and fired first.

The shot cracked past my ear. A guard dropped hard against the metal railing. Julian twisted, put his body between me and the next burst, and took two blue bolts across his already ruined shoulder.

He hit one knee.

"Julian!"

"I'm fine." He pressed his palm to the floor and forced himself up. Blood soaked through his shirt and ran along his side. "That was a lie. Keep moving."

I grabbed his belt and hauled him toward the narrow service hatch under the control platform. "You can walk?"

"Can you stop asking stupid questions?"

"Can you stop bleeding on me?"

"No.