Chapter 14 · Mentor's Dirty Lie

"Still breathing, Kael? You always were a cockroach," Silas said, stepping out of the shadows of the corridor.

I didn't answer. I didn't have to. I lunged.

My fingers locked around his throat before he could even raise his hand to signal his guards. I slammed him back against the reinforced plating of the wall, the impact echoing like a gunshot in the narrow hall. His eyes bulged, the pupils shrinking to pinpricks as I squeezed.

"You sold me," I hissed, my voice sounding like grinding gravel. "You told me the bond was safe. You told me the corps wouldn't find the signal."

Silas clawed at my wrists, his face turning a bruised shade of purple. "It... was... necessary," he managed to choke out, a thin line of saliva leaking from the corner of his mouth.

"Necessary for who?" I shoved him harder, the metal wall groaning under the pressure. "For your promotion? For a bigger office in the Spire? I almost burned out my brain because of your 'necessity'."

*Stop talking, Kael,* Nyx’s voice flickered in my mind, sharp and cold. *He’s stalling. Look at his left hand. He’s reaching for a trigger.*

I didn't let go.