Chapter 32 · Steal the Starlight - Chapter 32: Betrayal in the Spotlight

“Don’t touch her!”

Cade’s hand clamped around my wrist before I could reach Wren.

The stage lights hit us so hard I saw white. Wren stood ten feet away in her gold armor, one knee down, a fake blade pressed to her throat by a corporate stunt villain. The audience screamed on cue.

Then the stunt villain drove the blade in.

Wren’s shield flashed late. The edge scraped her neck and drew a thin red line.

That part wasn’t in rehearsal.

I jerked against Cade’s grip. “Let go.”

“Not until you remember which side pays your rent.”

“Your company hasn’t paid me in three weeks.”

“Then try not to ruin the only check coming.”

Behind us, the giant screen changed. The bright logo of StarrCorp shattered into red warning symbols. The crowd stopped cheering.

A voice rolled through the arena speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s special event has been upgraded.”

Wren rose slowly. Blood ran from her neck to the collar of her armor. Her eyes found mine across the stage.

Not scared.

Furious.

She mouthed, Run.

Cade tightened his fingers. “You’re not going anywhere.”

The black shard in my palm burned through my glove.

I smiled at him.