Chapter 23 · The Price of Proof

"Then use it before I lose it. Put the record in the console."

Dorian stepped into my space. His chest nearly touched mine, heat bleeding through both our coats. He lowered his voice until the rest of the council chamber disappeared.

I held his stare. "And if you shut the feed down?"

"You can stab me after."

"Tempting."

"I know."

The corner of his mouth almost curled.

Then the bond tore across my collarbone.

Pain punched through me. I sucked in a breath, and Dorian caught my elbow before my knees folded. His fingers burned through my sleeve.

I shoved the record into the console.

Every light in the council chamber died.

The wall screens flashed white. Broken shield data spilled across them in jagged lines. A siren kicked on beneath the floor, loud enough to rattle my teeth.

Silas shot to his feet. "What the hell did you do?"

"I plugged in the evidence," Dorian said. "Try to keep up."

The first image locked onto the center screen—a map of Hollowmere's outer shield.