Chapter 54 · The People Below

Ronan yanked the console toward him.

Metal ripped out of the floor. The chamber lurched, and my restraints slammed me against the wall.

"Ronan!"

"Stay with me."

"I'm right here."

"No. Look at me." He caught my face between both hands. "Don't look at the gate. Look at me."

His face was inches from mine. Water soaked the hem of his coat. His breath brushed my cheek, hot and uneven against the cold slicing through the chamber.

The bond between us was wounded, but it was still alive. Every time he touched me, it hooked beneath my ribs.

I wanted to shove him away.

I wanted to drag his mouth onto mine and make him remember every piece of me he was throwing into this machine.

Instead, I grabbed his collar.

"If you forget me," I whispered, "I'll never forgive you."

His eyes dropped to my mouth.

"You already hate me."

"Don't make me add this to the list."

A violent pulse slammed through the chamber. The console cracked beneath Ronan's hand.

He let go of my collar and turned toward the council feed.

"Open the channel."

Havel laughed through the speakers. "You don't have any authority left.