Chapter 6 · I'm not pleased. I'm terrified

"I'm not pleased. I'm terrified."

"Liar."

"Ask the bond."

The corridor door at the far end burst open.

A hound stepped through with a shield emitter strapped to his forearm. The device hummed as a pale barrier unfolded across the hallway.

"Down!" Julian shouted.

He caught my shoulder and spun me behind him.

The hound fired a spread of blue darts. They struck Julian's shield just as he brought it up. Light flared. The impact drove him backward into me.

His back hit my chest. My hands closed around his ribs to keep us both upright.

"You okay?" I asked.

"You touched me voluntarily. Should I mark the date?"

"I can let you fall."

"You won't."

"Try me."

The shield buckled.

Julian reached for the power inside the collar. I felt the motion before I saw it, a pull in my chest, a door opening somewhere behind my ribs.

My power answered.

Not much. A thin red glow crawled over my fingers, weak but sharp.

Julian glanced down. "You still have a spark."

"I have enough."

"Then aim it at the floor."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

"Bad answer."

"Because the corridor pipes run under their boots."

That was better.