Chapter 35 · Blood Pact

"Get behind me, Kane!" Selena fired before the blast door finished opening.

The round punched through the security drone's red sensor. Sparks sprayed across Kane's face. He ducked, stumbled, and slammed into the console behind him.

"You call that behind you?" he snapped. "I'm bleeding on your boots."

"Then stop moving."

"Great plan. The floor is trying to kill me."

A second drone rolled through the doorway, its gun arm already lifting. Selena shoved Kane down with one hand and fired twice with the other. The first shot cracked its armor. The second took out the wheel joint.

The machine spun, scraping metal across the floor.

Kane grabbed the edge of the console and forced himself upright. His knees shook. The sync trial had left a hot wire running through his skull, and every light in the lab seemed to stab straight behind his eyes.

Selena caught his jacket and dragged him away from the doorway.

"Move."

"I am moving."

"You're leaning on me."

"You noticed?"

Her fingers tightened against his ribs. Her gun stayed trained on the corridor.

"Keep talking," she said. "It helps me decide where to shoot you later."

"You're getting sentimental."

"I'm getting tired.