Chapter 38 · Under His Signature

“Take your hand off the switch.”

Kade’s fingers closed around Evelyn’s wrist before she could pull the lever.

The movement looked lazy. It wasn’t. His grip locked her in place, warm palm against her skin, his thumb pressed over the pulse that no longer belonged to her alone. The bond jumped between them. Her heartbeat kicked once. His followed half a beat later.

Evelyn stared at his hand. “You’re touching the woman who can kill you.”

“I’m stopping the woman who’s about to kill both of us.”

“That’s my fuel line.”

“That line is feeding the rift gate.” Kade stepped closer, forcing her back against the metal control frame. “And the Crown just found us.”

A red warning strip flashed above them.

ACCESS BREACH.

Three floors below, something heavy slammed into the old transit station. Dust shook loose from the ceiling. The fuel tanks groaned behind the reinforced wall.

Evelyn’s mouth went dry. “How long?”

“Two minutes. Maybe less.”

“You said the Crown couldn’t track us through the market.”

“I said they couldn’t track me.”

“Cute distinction.” She twisted against his grip. “Let go.