Chapter 70 · If you send it

He fitted the connector against the bond mark at her wrist.

Evelyn caught his jaw before the device could activate. Her fingers slid against the rough edge of his cheek. He went still.

"If you send it," she said, "you don't get to decide what I do with the truth."

"I know."

"If you betrayed me, I'll end this myself."

"I know."

"If you didn't—"

"Then what?"

Her thumb stopped near his mouth.

"Then you come back," she said. "You hear me? You come back and let me be angry at you in person."

Kade's eyes dropped to her lips again. "Bossy."

"Desperate."

His breath caught.

Then he pressed the connector down.

The memory hit her like a door kicked open.

Kade stood in the old rift station, years younger, blood running from his brow. Evelyn saw herself across the room, holding the route map. Her foster father stood behind her with a detonator in his hand.

"You said the Crown would leave us alone," young Evelyn shouted.

"I said they'd leave you alone if you gave them the engineer," her foster father answered.

Kade stepped in front of Evelyn.

"Take me," he said. "Leave her out of it.