Chapter 24 · Steal the Starlight - Chapter 24: When the Clock Hits Zero

"Don't touch the switch."

Wren's hand stopped two inches from the black control panel.

A red timer burned above it.

00:47.

"Then tell me what the hell I'm supposed to touch," she snapped. "Your hand? Your throat? The emergency release that just locked itself?"

"Nothing. You stay back."

"Ellis, the link is eating you alive."

"I noticed."

A fresh line of pain cut through my chest. My knees hit the metal floor, and the stolen starlight shard slipped from my fingers. It bounced once, skittered under the console, and dragged a black scorch mark across the silver plating.

Wren lunged for me.

I caught her wrist before she could kneel.

Her glove was hot. Not warm. Hot enough to burn through my palm.

She stared at my fingers around her wrist. Then she looked at my face.

"Let go."

"No."

"You're going to break your hand."

"Better mine than yours."

The timer changed.

00:39.

Somewhere above us, the vault groaned. The city's starlight shield flickered through the glass ceiling in pale blue bands. Every flicker made Wren jerk like someone had pulled a wire inside her spine.

She tried to yank free.

I tightened my grip. "Stop fighting me.