Chapter 8 · Don’t Kill Him

“Move, Warden!”

Elias slammed into Nora a second before the relay tower exploded.

The blast threw them across the service platform. Nora hit the metal rail hard enough to knock the breath out of her. Elias caught her wrist before she went over the edge, his fingers locking around her like a steel clamp.

“Let go!” she snapped.

“Gladly. Stop trying to fall.”

“I wasn’t trying to fall.”

“You were aiming for the drop.”

A second pulse cracked through the tower. Blue-white light ripped across the platform, chewing through the iron grating under their boots.

Elias hauled Nora toward the access hatch. He moved fast, dragging her with him while sparks sprayed from the relay coils above.

“Finn’s signal is in there,” Nora said.

“Your brother’s signal is bait.”

“You said that three times.”

“And you ignored me three times.”

“I’m considering making it four.”

“Try it and I’ll carry you.”

Nora twisted against his grip and drove her elbow toward his ribs. Elias turned just enough to take the hit on his forearm. The impact jolted up her arm.

His mouth tightened. “That supposed to hurt?”

“No. I was warming up.”

“Cute.”

“Don’t call me cute.