Chapter 63 · The Badge of Treason

"You don't get to die until I decide what to do with you."

Cassian's hand clamped around my wrist before my boot could touch the broken bridge.

I twisted toward him. "Let go."

"No."

"You dragged me into this tower to steal the broadcast. Don't start treating me like I'm fragile now."

His grip tightened. "I'm treating you like you're standing on a floor that's about to collapse."

The metal cracked beneath my boots.

Cassian jerked me against his chest. His armor scraped my coat. Heat struck the side of my neck with every rough breath.

The bridge dropped two inches.

Behind us, Cyrus caught the rail. "That wasn't the tower settling."

The tide core flashed white.

A blast punched up through the shaft. Chains snapped in the lower cells. Prisoners screamed as the hanging platforms swung toward the open center.

Cassian drew his sword. "Get them out."

"With what? The lift is gone!"

"Then climb."

Cyrus stared at him. "That's your plan?"

Cassian gave him one cold look. "You got a better one?"

Cyrus pointed at the control panel buried under fallen steel.