Chapter 28 · The Child Behind the Light

"Get away from that gate, Sera!" Rayne slammed his forearm across my chest and shoved me back before the searchlight swept over the tunnel mouth.

The beam burned across the underground city, white and sharp enough to make every cracked stone wall jump. Soldiers froze behind overturned carts. A few raised their rifles toward us.

Not toward Cole's hunters.

Toward Rayne.

A speaker bolted above the medical wing spat out Cole's voice.

"Ironfang soldiers, listen carefully. Your commander has hidden a hostile infiltrator inside your walls. She carries my blood code. She signed the order that created the pups you're protecting."

My stomach dropped.

Rayne's arm stayed locked across me. His body covered mine from the nearest rifles, heat cutting through my torn jacket. His breath brushed the side of my face when he leaned close.

"Tell me that's fake," he said.

"You already know it isn't."

His jaw tightened. "I know your blood was used. I don't know what you signed."

"I didn't sign anything willingly."

Cole laughed through the speaker. The sound crawled over my skin.