Chapter 60 · he whispered

He leaned in until his forehead touched hers. His breath was rough. The heat of him pressed through the torn fabric at her shoulder, and the contact made the bond flare brighter.

"Say it," he whispered.

"What?"

"Tell me you choose this."

Her throat tightened. "I choose the people below us."

His expression hardened. "That's not what I asked."

The timer hit 00:01.

Kade's hand slid to the back of her neck. He didn't force her closer. He simply held her there, waiting, giving her one last chance to pull away.

Evelyn felt his pulse against hers.

"I choose you alive," she said. "Now open the damn channel."

The bond snapped tight.

A shockwave ripped through the platform. Evelyn screamed as Kade's pain flooded her—burning nerves, crushing pressure, the awful sensation of his body shutting down piece by piece. At the same time, her own heartbeat slammed into his system.

The console unlocked.

ACCESS GRANTED: DUAL HEARTBOUND.

"I hate that name," Evelyn gasped.

"You named it."

"I was busy stealing your chest battery."

"You always make excuses?"

"Only when men with control issues hand me lethal machinery.