Chapter 45 · You didn't answer

"You didn't answer."

"I'd come back to kill you myself. Move."

His laugh was rough and brief. Then the copies hit him.

Three bodies slammed into his back. The door tore wider. Kade staggered, one knee striking the metal threshold.

"Go!" he shouted.

"Not without you!"

"The exit is closing!"

"Then open another one!"

He drove an elbow into the nearest copy and threw it down the stairs. Another latched onto his shoulder. Its face changed into mine, mouth open in a silent scream.

Kade's weapon skidded across the landing.

I reached for him.

A black spike punched through the wall beside my head.

Kade turned toward the sound. His eyes went wide.

"Evelyn, jump!"

The landing exploded.

He hit me first.

Kade wrapped both arms around my waist and threw me through the doorway. I landed hard on the other side, rolling across a narrow platform suspended over a glowing gap.

"Kade!"

He was still on the landing.

The spike had gone through his side.

His body jerked. Red light spread across his coat. Through the bond, pain tore into my chest so violently I bit my tongue.

"Get up!" he yelled.

"You're hurt!"

"I'm aware!"

"Pull it out!"