Chapter 21 · Untitled Chapter

"Get off me, Cael!"

Tessa drove her elbow toward his ribs as the relay tower screamed above them.

Cael caught her wrist before she could strike again. His palm clamped down hard, heat burning through her jacket.

"Stop fighting me for five seconds."

"The wardens are inside the station! Five seconds gets us arrested, dissected, or both. Let go."

"If I let go, you’ll run straight into them."

"Maybe I like my odds better than I like yours."

Blue light ripped across the room. The old relay took the hit and spat sparks from three cracked panels.

Boots thundered down the access stairs.

Tessa yanked against his grip. The heartlock beneath her ribs answered with a sharp, burning thump.

Cael flinched at the exact same time.

There. That was the problem.

"You’re making it worse," he said.

"I’m making noise. They already know we’re here."

"They know the trace is here. Not who’s carrying it."

"The trace is in my chest, genius."

His eyes dropped to the center of her coat. He looked for half a second too long.

Tessa shoved his shoulder. "Don’t look at me like that.