Chapter 16 · The Heartbeat Heist

"Get your hands off him!" Tessa drove her elbow into the warden's throat and caught Cael before his knees hit the floor.

The warden stumbled back, choking. Cael crashed against Tessa, burning hot and shaking hard enough to rattle her teeth. Blue-white light cracked across his skin.

Three rifles clicked.

"Down," ordered the woman in the silver coat. "Arden is contained. Step away from him, Rook."

Tessa tightened her grip on Cael's jacket. "You first. Drop the rifles."

"You're in no position to bargain."

"Funny. Your whole tower's shaking because he's in my arms. Sounds like I've got a pretty decent position."

Behind the warden, the central chamber groaned. Gold lines crawled across the black walls, splitting and joining like cracks in glass. Above them, the shield core spun inside its iron cradle, too fast to track. Sparks rained from every turn.

Cael's breath scraped against Tessa's neck.

"Tessa," he whispered. "Don't let me touch the core."

"Wasn't planning to."

"If I lose control—"

"You'll tell me before you do."

His fingers closed around her sleeve. Heat burned through the fabric. "I'm telling you now.