Chapter 10 · The Dirty Deal

“Step away from him, Lyra. Or I press this button and turn your chest into a supernova.”

Victor’s voice drifted through the sterile hall, smug and oily. It made my skin crawl.

I didn't move. I couldn't. Cain had me pinned against the cold metal plating of the wall. His arm was a hard bar across my chest, his body a wall of radiating heat and muscle. He was breathing hard, smelling of ozone and scorched leather.

“Don’t you dare,” Cain growled. The sound vibrated through my own ribs. He didn't look at me; his eyes were locked on Victor, narrow and calculating.

“Oh, I’ll dare.” Victor chuckled. He leaned against a console, casually tossing a small, obsidian-black remote in the air. “Trigger’s live. One click, and that forbidden core of yours forgets how to be a battery and decides to be a bomb. You’ll be dead before you feel the heat. But Cain? He gets a front-row seat to the fireworks.”

Panic spiked. A cold needle of terror shot straight down my spine. I tried to shove away from Cain, but his grip tightened. His fingers dug into my shoulder.