Chapter 43 · Husband's Immunity

The execution blade dropped another inch, scraping sparks from the iron ring around my feet.

Carson shoved his burned hand higher.

The melted warden's badge was trapped between his palm and the glowing runes. Skin peeled from his fingers. Smoke curled around his wrist, and the smell of burned flesh hit the back of my throat.

"Move!" I screamed. "Carson, move your hand!"

"Not until you say it."

The blade groaned above us. Its edge hovered over his shoulder, close enough to shave a strip from his black coat.

"Say what?"

"That I'm your husband."

My mouth went dry.

Across the execution chamber, Vance leaned against the control pillar with his arms folded. He looked almost bored. The red command lights painted his grin in thin, ugly lines.

"This is touching," he called. "The famous traitor engineer finally gets a chance to make herself useful."

"Shut your mouth," I snapped.

"Or what? You'll report me to your husband?" Vance laughed. "He has no badge. No command seal. No authority. In less than ten seconds, he won't have a hand.