Chapter 15 · The Price of Remembering

"Take your hand off the seal." Rowan's fingers locked around Tessa's wrist before she could pull the black shard from the memory engine.

The machine screamed.

Not a warning beep. A real, grinding shriek that shook dust from the ceiling and made every camera lens in the prison swing toward them.

Tessa twisted against him. "You said this would show you what they erased."

"I said it might. I didn't say you could rip the core out."

"The core is eating my pulse."

"Then stop touching it."

"Let go."

Rowan pulled her back against his chest and braced one hand over the seal between them. His palm was hot through her coat. Too hot. The mark under her ribs answered with a sharp pulse, and pain snapped through her chest.

Tessa sucked in a breath. "You did that."

"The seal did."

"Funny how often it copies you."

His jaw tightened beside her temple. "Keep fighting me and it will cook your heart."

The memory engine spat blue sparks across the floor. A red symbol flashed above the central ring.

FLAGGED SUBJECTS: TWO.

Tessa looked up at the nearest camera.