Chapter 14 · Neon Rain Run

"Move, Kai!" Vala slammed her shoulder into my chest and knocked me off the rail a heartbeat before the sniper round tore through the sign behind us.

The neon dragon above our heads exploded in a shower of blue glass. I hit the wet pavement hard, rolled, and came up with Vala's pistol jammed under my jaw.

"You shoved me into traffic," I snapped.

"You're welcome."

"You just saved my life."

"Don't make it sentimental. I still plan to arrest you."

Another round punched through the street beside my hand. Concrete dust sprayed across my knuckles.

Vala grabbed the back of my jacket and hauled me toward the alley. Her grip was iron. Her breathing stayed flat, controlled, almost bored, even while three red targeting dots crawled over the rain-slick walls around us.

"Run," she said.

"You don't get to order me around."

She twisted my arm behind my back and shoved me forward. Pain flashed from my wrist to my shoulder.

"I just did."

I stumbled after her, boots skidding over neon puddles. The city blurred into broken color—pink signs, green traffic lights, blue ads for Cloud citizenship.