Chapter 20 · Crowned in Blackstone

"Put the camera on me," I said. "Not Julian. Me."

The command tower shook under another blast. Dust dropped from the steel beams and peppered my hair. Gabriel caught my waist before the floor could throw me into the broadcast console.

His palm burned through my jacket. His other hand pressed against the cut beneath his ribs, blood slipping between his fingers.

"You're bleeding through the bandage," I said.

"You're giving orders in my tower."

"You gave me the channel."

"I gave you three minutes."

"Then stop wasting them."

His eyes locked on mine. Dark. Hard. Too close. I could feel his breath against my cheek, warm despite the cold metal room and the alarms screaming behind us.

He could take the channel back. One word from him, and every soldier outside would drag me away from the console.

He didn't.

Gabriel turned his head. "Open the public feed."

The communications officer stared at him. "Sir, the west relay is still unstable."

"Open it."

"The syndicate can trace—"

"I know what they can do." Gabriel's voice dropped. "Open the damn feed."

The red light above the camera blinked on.

My face appeared across the cracked monitor. Bruised cheek. Split lip.