Chapter 15 · The Order With His Name

"Put the knife down, Marek."

The blade pressed into the inside of my arm.

Not deep. Just enough to split my skin.

Blood slipped toward my wrist.

Lucas stepped in front of me, shoulders squared despite the blood soaking through the back of his uniform. One hand hovered near his weapon.

Three rifles tracked him from the guards kneeling around us.

Marek lifted the death order with his free hand. Lucas's authorization seal glowed red at the bottom.

"You signed this," Marek said. "Your voice confirmed it. Your retinal scan confirmed it. Now finish the job."

"I didn't sign anything."

"Then use her blood. The order only needs your final mark."

The knife bit a little harder.

Pain flashed up my arm.

Every camera in the transport station had turned toward us. Red recording lights blinked from the walls. Beyond the steel doors, city screens were already carrying the feed.

The command network was watching.

So was half the city.

"He's not asking you to arrest me," I said. "He's asking you to prove the order is real."

Lucas's jaw tightened. "Evelyn. Stop talking."

"No. You stop hiding behind commands."

I shoved my shoulder against his arm.