Chapter 22 · Everyone is watching

"Everyone is watching."

"Let them."

"You said this was not romantic."

"It is not."

"Then why are you holding me like—"

"Because the bond is trying to tear through you."

The silver light cracked across the floor.

The discipline officer shouted, "The circle is failing!"

The provost raised her rod. "Varka, step away from the summon or I will activate the severance array."

Selene's arm tightened around Tess.

Tess lifted her head. "What is a severance array?"

Selene's face went hard. "Something that kills one half of a bond."

"Which half?"

"Whichever one is weaker."

Tess looked at the empty stat display still hovering over her.

Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero. Zero.

"That would be me," she said.

"Do not assume that."

"I have zero everything."

"You have survived every test they gave you."

"By cheating."

"Then cheat again."

Selene released Tess just enough to look at her. Their faces were close. Her hand stayed at Tess's neck.

"Can you pull the error back?" Selene asked.

"Maybe."

"Do it."

"You want me to touch the thing that took six hours from my life?"

"I want you alive."

"You could have led with that."

"I am leading with it now.