Chapter 22 · If we do this, the contract will pull us into the same recovery cycle

He didn't move.

"Adrian."

"If we do this, the contract will pull us into the same recovery cycle."

"Meaning?"

"One bed. One stabilizer. One shared dream if the archive opens."

"You already knew that."

"Yes."

"And you still brought me here."

"Because you would've broken into the vault alone."

"I did break into the vault alone."

"You made it three doors before you collapsed."

"I got farther than you expected."

A rough sound left him. Not quite a laugh. Not quite anger.

"You could've died in the access hall."

"You could've told me the truth."

"You wouldn't have listened."

"Try me now."

He took the ampoule from my hand and pressed it between his teeth. His eyes stayed on mine as he bit through the glass cap.

The tiny movement shouldn't have felt intimate.

It did.

He swallowed half, then held it out.

I took the ampoule.

Our fingers touched.

The marriage mark exploded white.

Pain ripped through my chest. I gasped and bent forward, grabbing his shirt. Adrian caught the back of my neck and held me upright while the stabilizer spread through the link.

His forehead touched mine.

"Breathe," he said.

"Don't order me around.