Chapter 23 · Marrow Deep

"Use it or I skin her alive, glitch-rat!"

The breacher had Rook by the hair and a hot wire against her throat. Door was still melting behind him, slag dripping. Smoke everywhere.

"Let her go!" I shouted. My hand was locked around the marrow-blade Old Smokes shoved at me. It was buzzing. Hungry.

"Kade, don't!" Rook choked out. Her eyes found mine through the smoke. "Don't you touch that thing!"

"He touches it or you bleed," the breacher snarled. He pressed the wire hotter. Rook hissed. Her skin smoked. "Corp wants you breathing. Her? Not so much."

I was on my knees already. Didn't remember dropping. The blade was cold and then burning hot in my palm. The chip in my left eye was screaming.

[GENE-EATER: COMPATIBLE MARROW DETECTED. CONSUME? Y/N]

"Kade, look at me," Rook said. Her voice cracked. "Look at me, not it."

"I can stop him," I said. My voice was shaking so bad I could barely hear it. "I can cut him before he cuts you."

"And then what?" she snapped. "You go feral again? You try to eat me next?"

The breacher laughed. "Sweet. Lovers' quarrel. Pick, freak. Her throat or your leash.