Chapter 8 · The Brother in the File

"Not while the core is burning through the system."

"Then tell me what you need."

I looked straight at Dorian. "Your seal."

His face went cold. "No."

"Your seal can stabilize the record long enough for me to decode it."

"It'll feed the bond."

"The bond is already feeding on us."

A crack split the glass beneath my boots.

Red light exploded through the floor. Every screen flashed warning symbols, and the room shrieked awake around us.

Dorian grabbed my face with both hands. Heat burned through his gloves—or maybe the gloves were gone. His thumbs held my cheeks still while the floor bucked under our feet.

"Listen to me," he said. "If I push my seal into your mark, the claim might close."

My throat tightened. "You mean the claim you rejected in front of the entire city?"

His eyes went black. "I mean I might not be able to stop it once it starts."

"Good."

"Mara—"

"You wanted control." I shoved at his chest.

He didn't move.

"Take responsibility for once."

His hands slid down to my wrist.