Chapter 33 · Julian Vale

He looked at the camera mounted above the console. His face appeared on every screen, bruised, dirty, and missing the badge that had made him untouchable.

"Julian Vale," he said. "Former Shield Captain. Witness to League crimes. I authorize a public emergency broadcast."

The system flashed.

AUTHORIZATION ACCEPTED.

The relay door burst inward.

Three hunters rushed through. Julian moved first. He shoved me behind the console and threw up a shield with his bare hand.

The barrier formed crooked, thin as glass. The first hunter hit it and flew backward. The second fired a pulse round. It struck the shield and split into a spray of white sparks.

"You destroyed your badge!" the third hunter shouted. "Do you understand what you just did?"

Julian's arm shook. "Yeah. I finally read the fine print."

"Stand down!"

"Come make me."

His shield buckled.

I stepped out from behind the console and drove a wave of stolen power across the floor. The hunters' boots locked to the metal. They dropped hard, weapons clattering from their hands.

Julian stared at me. "You could've warned me."

"You looked busy."

"You enjoy this."

"Watching League hunters eat floor? A little."

His mouth almost curved.