Chapter 25 · The Under-Gear Slums

"Give me the book, Kael, or I break your hand before the slums notice we're here." Sloane had his wrist twisted behind his back, her forearm pressed between his shoulder blades.

"You dragged me three levels under Augusta for it. That's not exactly subtle."

"You talk too much."

"You threaten too much."

She tightened her grip. Pain shot from his wrist to his elbow. The resonance mark at the back of his neck answered with a cold sting.

Kael sucked in a breath. "Careful. Your pact doesn't like you hurting me."

"The pact doesn't have opinions."

"It screamed in your head when you stabbed that guard."

Her breath stopped against his ear.

For half a second, neither of them moved. Her body was close enough that he could feel the heat through his coat. Her fingers stayed locked around his wrist, but the pressure changed. Not gone. Just less brutal.

Kael used the pause.

He drove his heel into the back of her boot and twisted hard.

Sloane cursed, lost balance, and slammed into the iron support behind them. Kael ripped free and spun, but her pistol was already out.