Chapter 21 · The Archive Tower Falls

“Get your hand off the core.”

Kael’s fingers locked around Sera’s wrist before she could touch the black metal buried beneath the archive floor.

The tower shook hard enough to throw dust from the ceiling. A steel beam tore loose above them and slammed across the broken upper level, cutting off the only stairwell down.

Sera twisted against Kael’s grip. “Let go.”

“No.”

“You want to keep arguing while this place comes down?”

“I want to keep you alive.”

“Funny. You usually prefer me breathing just enough to obey.”

His jaw tightened. The bond between them answered before he did, pulsing hot under her skin. His fear hit her in a sharp, ugly burst.

Not fear of the tower.

Fear of her hand on the core.

Sera drove her elbow back. Kael caught it against his ribs, turned with the impact, and shoved her behind a cracked support column. His body covered hers as another section of the ceiling collapsed where she had been standing.

Stone dust filled her mouth. His coat scraped her cheek. One of his hands braced beside her head while the other stayed clamped around her wrist.

“Still think I’m the one you need protecting from?”