Chapter 4 · You pulled me out

He grabbed her hand again.

This time, neither of them argued.

They ran.

The fuel wave slammed into the channel. It chased them through the narrow passage, carrying scraps of metal and broken equipment.

Kade shoved Evelyn through the exit first. She hit a ladder and climbed. He followed one step behind.

The wave struck the opening as Kade hauled himself out.

Black fuel exploded through the grate.

Evelyn rolled across the floor and dragged him clear.

For a few seconds, neither of them moved.

Then Kade turned onto his side.

"You pulled me out."

"You were in the way."

"You could have left me."

"I thought about it."

"For how long?"

"Not long enough."

His hand found the back of her coat. He pulled her closer, checking the blue lines under her skin.

"Does it hurt?"

"No. I enjoy glowing."

"Evelyn."

"Yes, it hurts."

His fingers brushed her wrist. The contact was careful now, almost gentle.

She watched his face while he traced the edge of the light.

"You touch everyone you threaten?" she asked.

"Only the ones carrying my heart."

"That line almost worked."

"It wasn't a line."

"That's the problem."

He looked up.

The distance between them had narrowed without either of them choosing it. His knee pressed against hers. His thumb rested over her pulse. The bond kept their heartbeats locked together, fast and hard.

"You should give me the core," he said.

"You should stop asking."

"If I don't get it back, the Crown will track the bond."

"They already tracked us."

"They tracked the vault. The bond will give them a direct line to you."

"You said it was illegal."

"It is."

"Who made it?"

"I don't know."

"You built this, didn't you?"

Kade stared at her.

"Why would you think that?"

"You knew how to open the hatch. You can control the core. You saw my memory before I did. You talk like a man who has watched this happen before."

"I haven't."

"You're lying again."

"I don't remember building it."

"That's not the same answer."

He stood and pulled her up with him.

"We need to get off Crown property."

"My payment is still in the vault."

"Your payment is now surrounded by armed soldiers."

"I don't leave empty-handed."

"You have my core."

"I have a problem that happens to glow."

"You have me."

The words stopped her.

Kade seemed to realize what he'd said. His face closed again.

"For now," he added.

"Good correction."

A small access door stood at the end of the room. Evelyn pulled a stolen pass from the downed soldier's belt and swiped it.

The lock flashed red.

"Crown clearance rejected," a mechanical voice said.

"Your pass is garbage," Kade said.

"Your face is garbage. Open it."

"I need the core."

"You need my cooperation."

"Same thing."

"Not even close."

He stepped behind her.

His chest brushed her back. One hand covered hers over the core. The other settled against the lock.

His body heat soaked through her coat.

"Don't move," he murmured.

"If you say that one more time, I'm leaving you here."

"You can't."

"Watch me."

"Your heart won't let you get more than three steps."

"My heart has terrible judgment."

The core brightened under their joined hands.

The lock opened.

Evelyn felt Kade's breath pause near her ear.

"That wasn't me," he said.

"It was both of us."

"No. It recognized you."

"Why?"

He didn't answer.

She turned her head. Their faces nearly touched.

"Why did it recognize me?"

Kade's eyes moved over her face, stopping at her mouth for one dangerous second.

"I don't know."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it's true."

"Try lying. You're better at that."

His gaze returned to hers.

"If I knew, I wouldn't let you walk away."

The threat should have scared her.

Instead, her pulse jumped. His followed it immediately.

Evelyn stepped out of his reach.

"There. I walked."

Kade's fingers flexed.

"Don't test me."

"You don't get to order me around because your heart is in my hand."

"My heart is not the only thing you have."

"What else?"

"The Crown is going to chase you. The debt collector is going to chase you. Your brother's guards are going to chase you. And now I'm attached to you."

"Attached?"

"Life bond. Shared pain. Shared pulse. Same death if either of us goes down. Call it whatever helps you sleep."

"I don't sleep well."

"I noticed."

A sharp tone sounded from Evelyn's wristband.

She looked down.

A red Crown symbol had appeared on the cracked screen.

TARGET LINK ESTABLISHED.

Kade saw it over her shoulder.

"They have us."

"Then we break the link."

"We can't."

"You said you built the system."

"I said I don't remember building it."

"Then remember faster."

The access door behind them slammed shut.

A voice came through the speaker.

"Evelyn Sable. Step away from the enforcer and place the core on the floor."

Evelyn glanced at Kade.

"They sound very confident."

"They know the east exit is sealed."

"Then we take the west exit."

"There isn't one."

"There is always one."

"Not here."

The speaker clicked again.

"Evelyn, your brother is alive. For the next sixty seconds. Give us Mercer, and he stays that way."

Her hand closed around the core.

Kade watched her face.

"Don't listen to them."

"They have my brother."

"They have a prisoner with his name. That isn't proof."

"You don't know that."

"I know the Crown. They use names like knives."

"And you use people."

"Yes."

The blunt answer knocked the air out of her.

Kade stepped in front of her, placing his body between her and the speaker.

"Give me the core," he said. "I'll make them think I took it from you."

"Then what?"

"You leave."

"The bond?"

"I'll break it."

"Can you?"

"No."

"Then that's a terrible plan."

"It's the only one where you get out."

"You really think I'm going to hand you back to the Crown?"

"You were going to sell me five minutes ago."

"That was before you became inconvenient."

"Liar."