Chapter 19 · He pushed off the pipe. His knees buckled

He pushed off the pipe. His knees buckled again.

Sila caught him by the front of his jacket. The fabric bunched under her fist. Kael’s face came close, his jaw brushing her temple as he fought to stay upright.

"Don’t," he said.

"Don’t what?"

"Look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you’re deciding whether I’m worth carrying."

"I’m deciding where to dump you."

"You keep making that sound romantic."

Her fingers tightened in his jacket. "You’re delirious."

"Could be. But you’re still holding on."

Sila released him so fast he hit the pipe behind him.

He sucked in a breath.

For one second, she hated the flash of pain across his face. She hated that she noticed it. She hated that his blood was on her hands.

Then the scanner chirped.

A new signal appeared beneath the camp.

Sila froze. "That’s not possible."

Kael looked over her shoulder. "What?"

"There’s a second network under us. I didn’t build it."

"Who did?"

"The Old World."

His expression sharpened. "How deep?"

"The scanner can’t read past the first barrier."

"Give it to me."

"You can barely stand."

"Give me the scanner."

Sila held it out, but didn’t let go.