Chapter 16 · Untitled Chapter

"Get away from her!" Cade's voice hit the chamber before the first blade did.

Lena twisted aside as a silver spear punched through the space where her chest had been. The tip scraped her coat and spat sparks across the stone.

Three institute guards stormed through the broken archway. Their white coats were gone. Black spirit armor covered them from throat to boots, their masks hiding everything but their eyes.

All three weapons turned toward Cade.

"You heard the order," the lead guard said. "Step away from Vale."

Cade stood between them and Lena, one hand clamped over the glowing mark beneath his ribs. The eighth lock's damage crawled under his skin in dark lines. His jaw was tight, but his eyes stayed on her.

"What order?" he asked.

"By authority of the city core, the condemned subject is to be removed. The enforcer will stand down."

Lena pushed herself up on one elbow. The ninth lock burned beneath her ribs, a hard ring of blue light turning under her skin.

Slow.

Patient.

Waiting for someone else to decide what happened to her.

"Removed where?" she snapped. "Back to the execution block?"

The guard's mask turned toward her.