Chapter 39 · The Last Session

"Breathe, damn you! Breathe!"

Sloane’s palms slammed into my chest. The impact rattled my teeth.

"I told you not to do it!" she snarled, her face inches from mine. Her breath was hot, shaking. "I told you that collar would fry you! Why the hell didn't you listen?"

I couldn't answer. My tongue felt like a lead pipe. My brain was buzzing like a busted lightbulb.

The pulse had gone straight through my skull. Arms dead. Legs dead. But I could feel her—her knees pinning me down, her hair falling around my face like a curtain, shutting out the world.

"Julian! Hey! Eyes on me!"

She grabbed my jaw, forcing my head up. Her grip was tight, desperate. "You stay with me. You don't get to check out now."

"He's done," Silas’s voice drifted from behind her. He sounded way too pleased. "That was a kill-pulse, Commander. Your pet human just cooked his own brain to calm you down. How sweet."

"Shut up," Sloane snapped. She didn't even look at him.

"No, really. Look at him." Silas stepped closer. Boots clicking on stone. "He's twitching. That's the nervous system shutting down. You want me to be useful?