Chapter 18 · Blood Charge

"Don't you dare pull away," Eve hissed and slammed my wrist against the med-bay counter.

Her nails dug in. Her whole hand was shaking. Cold, then burning hot.

"You're crashing again," I said. "You need to ask, not grab."

"I don't ask." Her breath hit my jaw. Short. Ragged. "You knew what you were when you let me lock that door. You're my charge. So charge me."

The med-bay was supposed to be safe. Silas's voice was still echoing out in the hall from the last chapter, right outside the doors we just sealed. The Trojan Horse worked. We were inside. And now the air was locked, the lights low, and the only sound was her monitor screaming.

Beep. Beep. Beep-beep-beep. Way too fast.

Her Blood Protocol was glitching. Red lines crawling up her neck like wires under skin.

"Eve, you're spiking," I said. "Your sync rate is at eighty percent and climbing. If I push now you'll—"

"I'll what?" She shoved me back against the counter. Her other hand fisted my shirt. "Die? I'm already dying, Kai. That's the whole point of you."

That was the deal. I was the battery.