Chapter 19 · Good to know

Mira pointed to the glowing strand. "The black cable under the panel. Not the blue one. If you cut blue, the relay locks your nervous system."

"Good to know."

"I try to be useful."

The door burst open.

Oren's first guard came through low, rifle raised. Sera moved before he could aim. She drove the blade into the weapon's side, twisted, and slammed her elbow into his throat guard. Kael caught the guard by the collar and threw him into the second man.

"You could have let me handle that," Kael said.

"You were busy looking pretty."

"I never look pretty."

"That's the first honest thing you've said."

Oren entered behind his soldiers, wearing a black command coat and a silver mask over one side of his face. He lifted a compact pistol and aimed straight at Sera.

"Move away from the line," he said. "You have no idea what happens when it breaks."

"You do."

"I know exactly what happens."

"Then you're going to hate this."

Sera dropped to one knee and plunged the blade under the panel.

Kael lunged for her, but she caught his coat and pulled him down with her.

"Don't touch the line!" he shouted.