Chapter 24 · Untitled Chapter

Nolan's knees buckled.

I caught him before he hit the floor. His skin was cold enough to hurt my palms.

"Don't let it take me back," he whispered.

"It won't."

The Covenant Engine stirred behind my eyes. A thin gold line cut across my vision.

PROMISE DETECTED.

Kane made a broken sound behind me. His boots scraped over the metal grating as he tried to stand. Blood had soaked through the bandage at his ribs.

"Leia." His voice came out raw. "Stop making promises you can't keep."

I looked over my shoulder.

He stared at me like a stranger who'd just remembered my name. A moment ago, he'd torn apart his contract in front of a militia fleet and offered his memories as payment for protecting us. Now that sacrifice stood between us like a locked door.

"I can keep this one," I said.

"You don't know what this place does to promises."

"I know what it did to you."

His jaw tightened. For half a second, something flashed behind his eyes—neon rain, a woman's hand against a train window, laughter in the dark. Then it vanished. Kane flinched.

Sevlyn stepped through the broken security gate.

She'd discarded her mask.