Chapter 5 · You Want to Argue About My Guards

"You want to argue about my guards," Dorian said against my ear, "or do you want to stay alive long enough to prove you're right?"

He spun so fast I slammed into his chest.

His arm locked around my back. My cheek scraped against the rough collar of his coat. Cedar, cold air, and the hard heat of him closed around me.

I hated needing his support.

I hated even more that he knew it.

"Open the shield room," I said.

"I'm trying."

He shoved his palm against the access plate.

Nothing happened.

The red lights overhead flashed white.

A deep mechanical thud rolled beneath our feet.

Dorian's arm tightened. "Move."

He dragged me down the corridor before I could argue. Our linked wrists knocked together with every step. The bond tugged whenever we gained too much distance, yanking us back shoulder to shoulder.

"This is your plan?" I demanded. "Run until the building kills us?"

"Keep moving."

"You said you controlled the shield."

"I said I command the city. Those aren't the same thing."

I stumbled.

Dorian looked back.