Chapter 35 · The Seal Chooses Me

"Open that second drain and you'll pull from the lower wards!" I fought the guard's grip. "People are still trapped under Dock Nine!"

"The city needs the floodgate restored," Vey said.

Cassian stood inside the glass prison, black water up to his mouth. His eyes stayed locked on mine. "You're going to kill them."

Vey didn't even blink. "I'm saving the districts that matter."

That did it.

I slammed my elbow into the guard behind me.

He cursed and loosened his grip. I twisted free, drove my knee into his thigh, and caught his spear before it hit the floor.

"Mara!" Cassian shouted.

I spun and rammed the blunt end of the spear into the control pillar.

The pillar cracked.

Blue light tore across the chamber. Every alarm went off at once.

"You little—" Vey snapped.

Cassian lifted both hands inside the prison.

The seal scars around his wrists split open.

Red light poured through them.

Not blood.

Life-tide.

It raced up his arms in bright, burning lines. The water around him hissed. His shoulders jerked as the prison pulled harder from his body.

"Cassian, stop!" I yelled.

"Get back!"

"No! You idiot, don't—