Chapter 26 · Amber, Not Open

"Uncle Levi!" Danny's fist hit the door again, three fast knocks. "The lock's not — something's wrong with the panel, it's just blinking red—"

Levi didn't let go of my collar. His knuckles stayed white against the fabric, and his other hand was pinned under mine, flat on the gauze where I'd shoved the dirty panel ten minutes ago. Neither of us had moved in a full minute. The wrap had gone dark at the edge, blood soaking through the tape, and every time his forearm flexed I felt it against my palm like a second pulse under the first one.

"Your door's fine," I said. "It's the mag lock. Cage goes into isolation mode when a false alarm trips. You know that, you signed the protocol."

"I know what a false alarm is, Ortega." His voice came out low, close enough that I caught cedar and antiseptic off his throat. "What I don't know is why you're still holding my arm like you own it."

"Because you'll bleed through the tape if I let go.