Chapter 24 · Reckoning Call

"Drop the rifles, Kyle, or I start breaking fingers." Ronin stepped in front of me, one clawed hand raised as the firing squad tightened around the corridor.

The guns stayed aimed at our chests.

Behind us, Sera lay inside the ice chamber with the only breathing mask strapped over her face. The green light on the mask blinked slower now. Too slow.

Kyle Damon smiled through the fogged visor of his combat helmet. "Still giving orders, Commander? That rank died the second you chose a traitor over the Academy."

"I didn't choose her over the Academy." Ronin's voice dropped. His shoulders widened, half-shifted muscles pressing against his torn uniform. "I chose her over you. There's a difference."

My mark burned across my ribs.

Not pain this time. Recognition. His anger hit the bond like a hard shove. His fear followed, buried under all that control. He was terrified for me. Terrified for Sera. And still trying to put his body between me and every rifle in the corridor.

I grabbed the back of his coat. "Move."

His head snapped toward me. Gold flashed in his eyes. "No."

"You don't get to pull that commander's crap on me now."

"Vira—