Chapter 12 · The Core Opens

"Get away from the core, Cael!" Tessa slammed both hands into his chest, but the pulse blasting him across the chamber caught her too.

His back crashed into the metal rail. Her shoulder hit the floor.

Between them, the shield core screamed without making a sound—a white-hot shape hanging over the broken platform.

Cael caught the rail before the next pulse tore him off his feet. Blood ran from his nose. His eyes burned silver.

"Touch that thing and the city dies," Tessa snapped.

"Then stop me."

"Gladly."

She lunged and drove her elbow at his jaw.

Cael caught her wrist in midair. His fingers locked around her hard enough to hurt, but not enough to break. He yanked her close.

The heartlock between them flared beneath their ribs.

Heat punched through her chest.

Tessa sucked in a breath. "Let go."

"You want me to let go?" His voice came out rough. "The core is inside my head. I can hear every shield line in this city cracking."

"Sounds like a you problem."

"It's about to become everyone's problem."

Another blast ripped through the chamber. The floor jumped. Bolts popped free from the walls and shot past them like sparks.