Chapter 26 · The Forbidden Feed

"Don't let go of me." Kane's hand locked around mine as the red door split open. "Whatever Vera says, don't—"

"Don't what?" I snapped. "Trust you? Die quietly? Pick one."

His grip tightened. His palm was hot against my fingers, even through the grime and blood drying on both our hands. He stood too close, shoulder pressed to mine, keeping his injured side between me and the guards rushing down the corridor.

That was the problem with Kane Draker. He could barely stand and still found a way to put himself in front of the thing trying to kill me.

The door groaned wider.

Red light spilled across the floor. It crawled over Kane's boots, over Vera's sharp smile, over the auction guards aiming shock-spears at my chest.

"Core-bearer," one of the guards shouted. "Step away from the delver. The core belongs to the Maw."

"Funny," I said. "Nobody asked the Maw."

The guard raised his spear.

Kane yanked me behind him.

The weapon cracked. Blue current slapped the wall where my head had been.

"Move," Kane said.

"You first."

"Jessa."

"You don't get to use that voice after telling me the door can erase me."

His jaw flexed.