Chapter 53 · Every command I break costs me something

He grabbed the edge of the console and dragged himself toward me. His boots scraped through the rising water.

"Every command I break costs me something," he said. "The lockdown. The death order. The seal."

"What did you lose?"

He stopped.

Water dripped from his sleeve. His breath came rough and uneven, fogging the glass between us.

Then he shoved his hand through the narrow gap beneath the barrier and closed his fingers around mine.

His skin was ice-cold.

His grip was still Ronan's.

"The first time you called me a coward," he said.

My throat tightened.

"You remember that?"

"I remember you standing in front of the entire council." His thumb dragged once over my knuckles. "You told me my title was just a fancy way to hide behind other people's work."

"You deserved it."

His mouth pulled tight.

"You were right."

The console flashed again.

MEMORY COST ACCEPTED.

A second line crawled beneath it.

WARDEN AUTHORITY REDUCED.

His fingers slipped against mine.

"No." I gripped him harder. "Don't spend anything else."

"If I don't, the seal finishes drawing your blood."

"Then find another way. You're the High Warden. You control this room."

"Not anymore.