Chapter 22 · The Thirteenth Cycle

"Don't touch that door, Mara."

Eli caught my wrist an inch from the access plate.

Behind the glass wall, my copy stood inside the central grid with one hand pressed to the city's live feed. Blue light crawled beneath her skin. Every screen around us flashed the same message.

MARA VALE REPLACEMENT COMPLETE.

I twisted against Eli's grip. "You said the clinic was behind this door."

"I said the route was behind it."

"Same thing."

"Not even close."

"Move."

His fingers tightened. Not enough to hurt. Enough to remind me he could stop me whenever he wanted.

I drove my elbow at his ribs.

He turned, caught my arm, and pinned it between us. His chest hit mine. His coat scraped my cheek. Heat pressed through the fabric at his shoulder, and his breath touched my ear.

"Try that again," he murmured, "and I'll carry you."

"Try it, and I'll break your nose."

"You already did that once."

"Then you know I can do it twice."

His jaw tightened. "You don't remember doing it."

The words hit harder than his grip.

Red alarms snapped on overhead.