Chapter 25 · The Blade That Never Fell

"He's running." I grabbed Vex by the collar, yanked him upright. Blood dripped from his nose, his pupils blown wide. "Stay with me."

"Kira—" He coughed, red spattering his teeth. "The core's—"

"I know." I shoved him against the wall, kept one hand on his chest. The chamber shook, chunks of stone raining down. Halrik was already at the far archway, his coat flaring behind him. He didn't look back.

Vex wheezed. "Go. I'll—"

"Shut up." I pressed harder, felt his heartbeat stutter under my palm. Too slow. Too weak. The blast had torn through his side, ribs showing through the shredded fabric. If I left him, he'd bleed out in three minutes. Maybe two.

Halrik disappeared through the arch.

"Kira." Vex's hand closed around my wrist, his grip cold. "You've got one shot. He's the—"

"I said shut up." I ripped a strip from my sleeve, jammed it against the wound. He screamed, the sound raw and animal. Good. Meant he was still feeling it.

The core pulsed again, the light so bright I had to squint. It hung in the center of the chamber, a sphere of crackling silver shot through with black veins.