Chapter 43 · The Girl in the Core

"Put the blade down, Sera."

Kael's hand closed around her wrist before she could drive the edge into the black console.

The shackle at her throat flashed hot.

Her fingers locked. The blade stopped a breath from the core's pulsing surface, its tip trembling over a vein of red light.

"Let go."

"Your arm isn't yours right now."

"Funny. It was mine when I used it to cut through your guards."

"That was before the core recognized you."

The red light crawled up the blade and into her knuckles. Her hand jerked toward the console again. Kael twisted her wrist hard enough to pull her off balance, then caught her around the waist before her shoulder struck the metal housing.

His chest hit her back. Heat pressed through both their clothes. His breath brushed the side of her neck.

Sera slammed her heel into his boot.

"Get off me."

"Stop fighting the shackle."

"Stop giving me orders."

"Then stop trying to activate a weapon that can tear this city in half."

The core answered with a deep metallic thud. The floor bucked under them.

Kael's grip tightened.

Sera's free hand shot backward. Her elbow caught his ribs.