Chapter 36 · Commander! The deck's sealed! Black is inside the tower!

We crossed the ammunition car beneath flickering red lights. Soldiers crouched behind overturned crates, rifles aimed toward the rear. One spotted Dorian and lifted his weapon.

"Commander! The deck's sealed! Black is inside the tower!"

Dorian shoved me behind a steel brace. "Who sealed it?"

"She did! Magnetic blast from the communications spine!"

Sera.

My stomach dropped. "How long ago?"

"Two minutes! She took the master key!"

Dorian turned toward me. "You said you trusted her."

"I said I trusted her more than you. Don't make me revise that."

He drew his sidearm and checked the chamber. His injured hand shook once before he locked it still.

I caught his sleeve. "Give me the gun."

His eyes snapped to mine. "No."

"Your hand's failing."

"It isn't."

"Dorian."

"Don't use my name like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you still expect me to listen."

I took the pistol from his belt before he could stop me. His fingers closed around my hip, but I twisted free and raised the weapon.

"You can be angry later," I said. "Right now, I take the shot."

He stepped into my space. "You miss, we lose the tower."

"Then stand behind me and pray.