Chapter 15 · The Original Flood Order

The bond ripped through my arm the second Cassian pressed his thumb to the cylinder.

Blue light crawled beneath his nail and raced through the black metal. Pain snapped up my arm. My knees buckled.

Cassian caught my elbow.

"I'm fine," I snapped.

"You're shaking."

"I'm standing."

"Barely."

"Keep your eyes on Evelyn."

"I can do both."

The cylinder cracked open.

A burning line split the seal. Cassian's face locked down as the command system recognized him.

Every emergency speaker in the chamber clicked on.

His voice rolled through the tower.

"This is Cassian Rook, commander of Blackwater Harbor. Effective now, all flood orders issued under my clearance are suspended. Shut the tide gates. Cut every command relay connected to the council."

The guards stared at him.

For one perfect second, nobody moved.

Then the harbor answered.

Far below, metal groaned. The tide gates began to turn.

Evelyn spun toward the nearest console. "You can't shut down the command line without council authorization."

"I just did."

"You'll drown half the city!"

"You already are."

"Cassian, stop this!"

"No."

He shoved his thumb harder into the cylinder.

Blue light flared. His knees dipped.

I grabbed his sleeve. "Cassian."

"Don't."

"You're bleeding."