Chapter 42 · Give me that

We reached the service bay three cars later. It was barely wide enough for two people to stand without touching. Tool cabinets lined one wall. A red emergency lamp swung overhead, cutting Dorian's face into strips of light and shadow.

He locked the door behind us and pulled a command ring from his finger.

The black metal band carried the Northern Rail crest. Every military door would open for it.

Every soldier would recognize it.

"Give me that," I said.

His expression sharpened. "Why?"

"Because the order is following the ring."

"The ring is keyed to my blood signature."

"Exactly."

"If I destroy it, I lose command access."

"You already lost command access. They just haven't stopped using your name."

He glanced at the locked door.

Boots pounded somewhere outside.

"If I break this," he said, "I can't open the forward control hatch."

"Then we don't open it. We get to the signal car through the roof access."

"The roof access is sealed."

"So break another door. It's your favorite thing."

He watched me for a long second.

Then he held out his hand.

I placed the ring in his palm.

It was warm from his skin.