Chapter 25 · Forbidden Sync

"Don't let it finish!" Selene's hand slammed over Tess's wrist as the broken wall threw another blast through the room.

Tess hit the floor hard enough to bite her tongue. Selene landed beside her, one knee planted against Tess's hip, fingers locked around the burning contract mark.

The System flashed across Tess's vision.

[ANCHOR CONTACT CONFIRMED.] [SHARED CONTAINER COMPATIBILITY: 87%.] [FORCED SYNCHRONIZATION: 41%.]

"Get off me," Tess snapped.

"Stop fighting the link."

"You first."

Selene's gray eyes cut down to her. They were usually cold enough to make a person forget their own name. Right now, they weren't cold. They were sharp, focused, and just a little too close.

Tess felt Selene's breath against her cheek. Felt the heat of Selene's palm through the sleeve of her shirt. The contract mark burned between them, pulling at something neither of them could see.

"Tess." Selene tightened her grip. "Listen to me. If you pull away now, the surge will tear through your core."

"I don't have a core. Your kingdom stamped me unfinished. Remember?"

"Then it will tear through mine and use you as the exit."

That stopped Tess for half a second.

The room shook again.