Chapter 18 · Steal the Starlight - Chapter 18: The Perfect Lie

"Step away from her, Wren. Now."

Inspector Vale's hand hovered over the control band at his wrist. One tap, and the agency could shut down Wren's star-mark, freeze her power, and lock every door in the apartment. Another tap could sever the emergency link between us.

I still had one hand twisted in Wren's jacket.

Not because I trusted her. Because my knees were shaking, and she was the only solid thing in reach.

Wren looked down at my fingers, then back at Vale. Her jaw tightened.

"She's injured," Wren said. "Give us five minutes."

"You had twenty minutes." Vale stepped through the open door with two black-armored corp guards behind him. "The broadcast is already running late. Your audience wants the aftermath, not excuses."

"The audience can wait."

His eyes dropped to the blood on my sleeve. "No. The audience paid for you to smile through it."

I let go of Wren's jacket and pushed off the bathroom counter. My legs almost folded. Wren caught my elbow before I hit the tile.

Vale noticed.

Of course he noticed.

"There it is," he said. "The dependency problem."

Wren's fingers tightened around my arm. Her palm was warm. Steady.