Chapter 19 · Then every light in the chamber turned red

Then every light in the chamber turned red.

Sloane swore. “You just gave him our location.”

“He had it already.”

“You shot his relay.”

“I shot his face.”

“That was a relay.”

“Close enough.”

A deep alarm rolled through the walls. Somewhere below them, machines began to wake.

Sloane seized his collar and dragged him toward a narrow service hatch. “Move.”

Kael followed, but his knees nearly folded.

She caught him under the arm. “You’re done.”

“Not yet.”

“Your heart skipped.”

“Keep walking.”

“Kael.”

“Keep walking, Sloane.”

She stared at him, furious and frightened. The bond carried both feelings into his chest, mixing with his own until he couldn’t tell where one ended.

He hated the link.

He hated that he knew when she was scared.

He hated that her fear made him want to tear the building apart.

The hatch opened into a maintenance shaft barely wide enough for one person. Sloane climbed in first. Kael followed, pulling the panel shut behind them just as boots thundered into the room.

The shaft dropped three levels.

Sloane landed on a narrow platform and turned.