Chapter 14 · The Rank He Gives Up

"Take off your coat," I said. "If you're surrendering command, don't hide behind the uniform."

Dorian stood across the armored train's control room, one hand braced against the console. The train bucked hard enough to send a wrench flying from the workbench. It struck the floor and spun between us.

His eyes never left mine.

"You want me to strip in front of the whole crew?"

"I want that rank off your body before it gets my brother killed."

His jaw tightened. The black service seal at his throat caught the red emergency lights.

That seal gave him control of every lock, gun, engine brake, and soldier on the train.

It also gave the tribunal a clean reason to execute me as a traitor's wife.

Dorian undid the first clasp.

"You really think giving up command will save Sera's custody file?" he asked.

"No. I think keeping command guarantees they shoot him."

"You don't know that."

"I heard the order." I stepped closer. "Your tribunal sent a kill team to the rear cars. They aren't coming for the case, Dorian. They're coming for everyone who knows what it recorded.