Chapter 10 · Borrowed Feet

"Vale knows you're awake."

Ghost's voice cuts through the bond buzz in my head. My palm's still bleeding from the cut. The blood-bond's live now and I can feel her heartbeat somewhere under my own ribs.

"How much time?" I ask.

Footsteps hammer down the corridor outside. Heavy boots. That's Dax.

"Not enough." Ghost tries to stand and her leg gives out. She hisses through her teeth. "You need to move. Now."

"I'm not leaving you for him."

"Then borrow my feet."

I stare at her.

She taps her temple. "The bond. You can pull from me. My old routing skill. It's still in my muscle memory even if my legs are shit right now."

The door rattles. Dax's voice comes through, low and sharp. "Rona. Open up. Dad's orders."

Ghost grabs my wrist. Her fingers are cold. "Close your eyes. Feel for the thread between us. Pull."

I don't know what I'm doing but I close my eyes anyway.

There's a line in my head now. Thin and red and humming. It runs from my chest to hers. When I reach for it the whole thing lights up.

Something floods into me.

Not thoughts. Not words.