Chapter 20 · The Anchor's Choice

"Don't you dare call me back," Cade said, hauling Ivy against his chest. "Not this time."

His gloved hand locked around her wrist. Heat burned through the fabric.

The broken memory chamber bucked beneath their boots. Stone split. The black bell inside Cade's chest gave one slow, ugly pulse.

Ivy drove her elbow into his ribs.

He caught it before it landed.

"You always hit first?" he asked.

"Only when someone grabs me. Let go."

"Can't."

"Then break the hand."

His jaw clenched. His face was inches from hers. His breath brushed her cheek, hot against the dust-cold air.

"The thirteenth strike has started," he said. "If I let you go, you'll run straight for the bell. Touch it, and the reset finishes."

"The reset is already finishing."

"Because you shattered the array."

"Because you put yourself inside it!"

Black light ripped across the floor between them.

Cade shoved Ivy aside and took the blast across his shoulder. It threw him into a pillar. Stone burst behind his head.

Ivy stumbled, caught herself, and pointed at him. "See? That's why I can't let you handle this alone."

"You don't get to decide that."

"I just did.