Chapter 64 · The Sacrifice Command

"You don't get to die before I finish being angry with you."

Ronan's fingers slipped off the control ring.

The flood core slammed another shock through the tower. Metal shrieked under our boots. Ronan dropped to one knee, one hand clamped over his chest.

"Mara, move!" Celia shouted from the upper platform. "The core's taking his heartbeat!"

"I heard her."

Ronan tried to stand. His face had gone gray, but his voice still came out like an order.

"Get out of the tower. Now."

I grabbed his coat and hauled him toward me. "You first."

"I can't leave the controls."

"Then stop pretending this is noble and tell me what the core wants."

The answer hit through the floor.

Boom.

Ronan jerked against my grip. His chest locked beneath my hand.

For one awful second, nothing moved.

Then his heart kicked once.

Hard. Wrong. Slow.

His eyes found mine. "It wants a sacrifice."

"Of course it does." I shoved my shoulder under his arm. "Every old council machine has the same personality problem."

"Mara—"

"Save your breath. You're gonna need it."

He leaned into me, heavier than he should've been. Heat soaked through my sleeve.