Chapter 45 · The bond reads intent

He pinned her hand against his chest. His heart hammered under her palm.

"The bond reads intent," he said. "If you push too hard, it takes the strongest command in the room."

"And right now that's yours."

"No."

"You're the ruler. You're the trained one. You're the man who knows every control in this place."

"I gave you the control."

"Then use it."

"I can't override you."

"Why not?"

Kael's eyes dropped to the shackle.

"Because it doesn't see me as your master."

The words left a strange silence behind them.

Sera stared at him.

"What does it see you as?"

"A linked subject."

"That's not what the core called you."

"You heard that too?"

"It said we had matching authority."

"That shouldn't be possible."

"You keep saying that."

"Because every answer in this room is worse than the last one."

A violent tremor ripped through the floor. The crown chip skidded toward the open maintenance shaft.

Kael released her and dove for it.

Sera caught his coat before he could reach the edge.

"No."

"The chip is the only thing keeping the core from reaching the city grid."

"You said I had the choice.