Chapter 11 · Don't Let Her Reach Twelve

The chains bite into her wrists before she can even stand.

"Move and I snap them tighter." Kael's voice cuts through the stone hall. He's already across the room, one hand on the lever mounted into the wall.

Nora jerks her arms up anyway. The iron pulls taut with a scrape that echoes too loud. "Mira's dying."

"I know."

"Then why the hell am I chained?"

Kael doesn't answer. He yanks the lever. The chains rattle through a pulley system overhead and lock into place. She's stuck three feet from the wall, arms spread just enough that she can't reach the buckles.

"She's got maybe two hours." Nora's voice cracks. She hates that it does. "I can fix it. I know I can."

"You also knew where the intel was hidden." Kael steps closer. His jaw's tight. There's dried blood on his collar. "You knew about the anchor mark before anyone told you. You knew the countdown."

"Because I've lived this before."

"Or because someone told you exactly what to say."

Nora pulls against the chains hard enough that her shoulders scream. "You think I'm working for them?