Chapter 10 · You were supposed to be dying

She pushed away and rolled beneath the next shot. The pulse carved a glowing groove through the train door.

Kade caught the officer's rifle and twisted. Metal folded with a sharp snap.

"You were supposed to be dying," the officer spat.

"I get that a lot."

Kade drove his elbow into the armor's chest. The officer flew into the wall.

The second one came at Ayla with a restraint cable. She caught it around her forearm, let the cable tighten, and used the pull to drag him close. Her blade opened under his chin, stopping just short of skin.

"Where's my brother?" she demanded.

The officer's visor reflected her face. "Debt prisoners don't have names."

She twisted the cable until he dropped to one knee.

"Try again."

"Vane's boy was transferred to Core Records."

"When?"

"After you signed the lock."

Kade turned sharply. "They moved him because of the pact."

"No," Ayla said. "They moved him because they expected me to sign it."

The officer laughed through his helmet. "You think this was an accident?"

Ayla drove the pommel of her blade into his visor. The laugh stopped.

Behind her, Kade made a rough sound.