Chapter 7 · Wanted: Both of Them

"Don't let go of me, Lex." Cael's hand locked around my wrist as the street split open beneath us. "If you fall, I fall with you."

"Then stop dragging me toward the hole!"

The black seam widened under our boots. Red warning lights flashed across the towers, turning every shard of glass above us into a row of angry eyes. Somewhere behind us, the Corps squad shouted over the alarms.

"Left," Cael snapped.

"Your left or mine?"

"My left. Move."

I moved because his grip was the only thing keeping me upright. The moment I tried to yank free, the Ghost Link burned through my arm. Heat shot up to my shoulder. Cael flinched at the same time, his jaw tightening.

The link had a nasty sense of humor. Hurt him, and it hurt me. Let him get too far away, and both our systems started screaming.

A pulse round slammed into the pavement behind us.

Cael shoved me forward. The blast hit his back instead.

He grunted and dropped to one knee.

"Cael!"

"Run."

"You just took a pulse round for me."

"I noticed. Keep moving."

Three armored hunters vaulted over the broken transit rail. Their visors glowed blue.