Chapter 9 · The Choice

"Core signature verified. Defense grid engaged."

Nora's second heartbeat slammed against her ribs. Her own heart answered a beat later. Blood seeped from the cut beneath her collarbone and slicked her fingers.

"That sounds bad," Tarin said.

"Make it stop."

"I'm not the one carrying an extra heart."

He backed toward the broken rail line and dug through his coat. Samuel stood three steps behind Nora, pale beneath the red lights. Blood had soaked through his shoulder bandage and dripped from the burned inspector badge pinned to his chest.

"Nora." His voice was calm. Too calm. "Look at me."

"I'm looking at the door."

"Look at me."

A cannon began charging behind them.

Metal ground against metal. Coils shrieked. The pulse crawled through Nora's teeth as the royal hunting automaton climbed over the rubble at the far end of the tunnel.

Tarin's blast had scorched its bronze shell, but the machine hadn't slowed. One arm dragged. Its head stayed level. A red lens burned in the center of its face.

"Core subject located," it said. "Submit for retrieval."

"It learned a new sentence," Tarin said. "I hate it already.