Chapter 25 · The Whole City Wants Me

The first scream came from the north gate.

Kade heard it two streets over, raw and high and cut off too fast. He pressed his back against the alley wall, chest heaving, and tried not to think about Mira alone in that basement with Drake and his entire squad. Tried not to think about the way she'd shoved the escape chip into his hand like it was the only thing that mattered.

The black core in his chest pulsed. Hot. Angry. It hadn't stopped since he'd felt that second core down in Drake's cage.

"Kade Riven." Drake's voice boomed across the city again, every amplifier in Ashgate singing his name. "Wanted for sabotage. Wanted for treason. Shoot on sight."

Another scream. Closer this time. Then the wet crunch of something hitting stone too hard.

The Rift-beasts were inside.

Kade pushed off the wall and ran. His boots slapped puddles, his breath burned, and every corner he turned felt like a coin flip. Left meant the lower district, right meant the market, straight meant the patrol route he'd memorized three days ago when this whole mess started. He went straight. The crowds were already scattering, people shouting, shutters slamming.