Chapter 28 · The Throne Beneath Riftport

The first blast struck the recovery chamber hard enough to make the floor jump.

Dust sifted from the ceiling. Somewhere above them, stone groaned beneath the weight of marching soldiers, and the citywide rune network crackled through the walls.

"By order of Strategic Intelligence," Ivra Kohn's voice announced from every speaking rune in Riftport, smooth as polished glass, "the traitor Xia Lan and Commander Nolan Vey are to be taken alive if possible. If resistance is encountered, terminate them both."

Milo flinched at the word terminate. His hand slipped from the black box, leaving a smear of blood across its obsidian surface.

"They're through the western corridor," he said. "Maybe three minutes. Less if they brought breach charges."

Another impact thundered overhead.

Xia Lan barely heard it. Her fingers were still wrapped around Nolan's. His palm was hot, callused, and wet with blood from the cut along his ribs. He had not let go after the recording finished. Not when her knees buckled. Not when the younger version of her voice had begged him to erase her.

If I become that person again, Nolan... please.