Chapter 26 · Blood Pact, Glitch Price

"Get away from him, Kael." Victor's voice came through the ceiling speakers. "Or I burn out Jaxon's core right now."

Jaxon hit the floor hard enough to crack a tile. Blue sparks jumped from the ports along his neck, and his right hand locked around the edge of the metal table.

I caught his shoulder before his skull met the ground.

"You don't get to give me orders," I said.

The room answered with the click of three rifles being armed behind the walls.

Jaxon's fingers clamped around my wrist. His grip was weak, but his eyes weren't. Even half-fried, he still looked at me like he was measuring the cleanest way to put me down.

"Don't touch my system," he rasped.

"Then stop leaking sparks on my boots."

"Kael." Victor's voice sharpened. "You have ten seconds. Step away."

A red countdown appeared across the cracked glass of the med-console.

09.

Jaxon tried to stand. His knees folded.

I shoved him back against the table. "Stay down."

"You planning to save me?"

"No. I'm planning to keep you alive long enough to hate you properly."

08.

His mouth twitched. Not a smile.