Chapter 29 · The Core's Choice

"Don't let go of me." Carson's fingers locked around my burned wrist, his palm hot against the blistered skin. Blood slid from the cut above his eyebrow and splashed onto the cracked shield floor.

"You first," I snapped. "You look like you're about to fall over."

"Still bossy. Good."

"Still bleeding. Not so good."

The west shield core groaned around us. Blue light ripped from floor to ceiling, splitting the chamber into jagged, glowing seams. Beyond the broken barrier, the maintenance shaft shook under another blast.

Three rebels had hit the tower from below. Maybe more. I'd lost count after the second explosion.

The only thing keeping the shield from collapsing was the contract pulse between Carson and me.

A stupid marriage contract.

A legal trap with his name stamped over mine.

And now the city was waiting for us to touch.

Carson dragged me closer. His chest brushed my shoulder. Heat rolled off him, tangled with smoke, blood, and the sharp metallic stink of the damaged core.

"The west gate's still sealed," he said.