Chapter 34 · The Heart Wakes

"Get away from me, Ayla!" Kade slammed into the rail wall hard enough to crack the old tile.

The impact shook dust from the ceiling. He stayed on his feet for half a second, jaw clenched, one hand pressed against his chest.

Then his knees buckled.

Ayla caught him before his head hit the track bed. His skin burned through his shirt. Not fever-hot. Power-hot. Blue-white lines crawled beneath his collar, flashing in time with the mark branded across her palm.

"You're welcome," she snapped. "Now stop trying to die before I decide whether I'm still mad at you."

Kade shoved at her shoulder. His fingers barely moved her. "I said get away."

"And I heard you. I just don't care."

His eyes lifted to hers. One was still gray. The other had gone bright silver, with a thin black ring twisting around the pupil.

Ayla tightened her grip under his arm. "What is happening?"

"My body is opening."

"That sounds bad."

"It is bad."

"Great. We agree on something."

A low boom rolled through the abandoned tunnel. The rails vibrated under Ayla's boots. Somewhere beyond the dark, metal screamed against metal, though no train ran on this line anymore.