Chapter 16 · Don't listen to him

Julian's shield flickered.

"Don't listen to him," he said.

"Why not? You keep saying I should trust you."

"I said no such thing."

"You held me in place while a map called you the next extraction target. That's a pretty big trust exercise."

His mouth twitched despite the chaos. "You're impossible."

"And you're glowing."

"That isn't an answer."

"It is the only one you're getting."

The black energy punched through the shield.

Julian twisted, taking the hit across his shoulder. Gold light burst from his back. He staggered into me, and I caught the front of his jacket.

The contract snapped hot between us.

His pain rushed through my body. My fingers went numb. I tasted metal.

"You're hurt," I said.

"I'm fine."

"Your shoulder is bleeding."

"Still fine."

"If you lie to me again, I'll break your nose."

"You say that like you haven't tried."

"I was distracted."

"By what?"

His gaze dropped to my mouth for half a second.

The room filled with gunfire, but that pause cut through all of it.

"By your attitude," he said.

"Coward."

"Villain."

"Poster boy."

"There she is.