Chapter 63 · You built the lock, Mercer. You can live with it

Then a Crown officer answering, "You built the lock, Mercer. You can live with it."

The memory snapped apart.

Evelyn gasped and nearly dropped the core.

Kade caught her hand. "Stay with me."

"You built a lock."

"I know."

"For who?"

"I don't know."

"You're lying."

"I'm trying not to break."

The honesty stopped her.

His forehead lowered until it almost touched hers. Their breath mixed in the thin space between them. The core pulsed in her hands, matching both their heartbeats now.

"Tell me what to do," she said.

"Put it in the port."

"And then?"

"Hold on to me."

"That sounds like a terrible plan."

"It's the one we have."

She slid the core into the black interface.

The port closed around it.

A blast of force ripped through the chamber. Kade grabbed her with both arms, pulling her against him as the platform bucked. His coat scraped her cheek. His heartbeat hammered against hers, too fast, too strong.

The bond tightened.

Not like a chain this time.

Like a locked door opening from the inside.

Evelyn cried out as his pain poured through her.