Chapter 31 · Trade Me, Not Him

Silas didn't knock. He walked in with two guards and a handheld terminal that hummed like a wasp. Mara was still standing at the glass, her palm flat against it where Kade had been a second ago. He'd backed up when the door opened. Smart. She hated that he was smart.

"Your brother's awake," Silas said. Not hello. Not we need to talk. Just that.

Mara turned. Her hand stayed on the glass. Cold bit into her skin. "Where is he?"

"Core level. My level." Silas tapped the terminal. The screen lit his face from below, all sharp angles and no pity. "He's asking for you. Sweet kid. Polite, even with the shock collar."

Her stomach dropped. She knew what shock collars did. She'd dug one out of a runner's neck last year. The scar tissue had fused with his jaw.

"Let me see him."

"Sure." Silas smiled. It didn't reach his eyes. "Soon as you help me with something."

Behind her, Kade moved. She heard his boots on the floor, two steps, then stop. He knew better than to touch the glass from his side. It would light him up.