Chapter 19 · The Tin Birds Face North

Dorian caught my wrist before I could jump from the maintenance platform.

"Don't."

"Let go."

The armored train screamed beneath us. Steel wheels spat sparks across the rails, and the platform shook hard enough to send my boots sliding toward the edge.

Dorian's fingers locked around my arm, hot through my sleeve. His other hand clamped around the ladder bolted to the train's side.

Behind us, the engine had stopped answering every command.

Not slowed.

Locked.

"You want to die over a signal officer who might not even be Sera?" he shouted over the metal shriek.

"I want to know who's using her access to control my train."

"It's not your train."

I drove my elbow into his ribs.

He grunted, but he didn't let go. The platform lurched again, slamming his body into mine. My back hit his chest. His breath burned against my ear.

"Still married to me," he said. "Try not to throw yourself off before the contract expires."

"You hid a custody list from me. Don't joke about our marriage."

His grip tightened.

There it was. The flinch he kept trying to bury.

"Who told you about the list?" he asked.

"You did.