Chapter 16 · The Living Anchor

"Why is your name first?" I grabbed Cade's coat before the black list could fold shut.

The core answered.

It ripped him off his feet and slammed him into the silver rails around the door. The chain between our wrists snapped tight, burning a red line across my skin.

Cade's head cracked against the metal.

"Cade!"

"Don't pull me." His fingers locked around the rail. His voice came out rough. "The core's got me."

"Then break free."

"Brilliant. Got another plan?"

The black letters kept moving behind him.

MORN, IVY.

QUILL, MIRA.

MORN, ELIAS.

ROURKE, CADE.

His name pulsed like a second heartbeat.

"You said the lock needed your heart," I shouted. "You didn't say it was putting you on the reset list!"

"I didn't know."

"You always know more than you tell me."

The silver rail split under his hand. A vein of black light crawled up his sleeve and vanished beneath his skin.

Cade's jaw tightened. "Save the argument. Get me out."

"You love giving orders when you're being dragged into a death machine."

"And you love arguing while the floor's trying to eat me. Move, Ivy.