Chapter 17 · This is a terrible idea. I want that on record

His eyes held hers for a long beat. Then he nodded toward Mira.

Mira slapped both hands onto the console. "This is a terrible idea. I want that on record."

"You have thirty seconds," Kael said.

"You said one minute."

"I changed my mind."

"Dictators are so annoying."

The console lit up. Thin lines of code ran across the glass. Sera felt the bond tighten between her and Kael, like an invisible wire being pulled through both their ribs.

"Don't move," Mira said.

"He's the one holding me."

"I'm holding you because you keep trying to stab me with equipment."

"You deserve worse."

"Save it. On three. One. Two—"

Sera pushed the shard in.

Kael sucked in a breath and slammed his free hand against the console. His shoulder hit hers. The relay answered with a burst of white light.

Then his memory opened.

Sera fell into it standing.

A red door filled her vision. Not a recording. Not a projection. A real door, close enough to touch. Her hands were smaller. Thin restraints cut into her wrists. Someone was crying on the other side.

No.