Chapter 27 · The Name They Buried

"Don't make this personal."

"You made it personal when you blamed me for your sister."

Lucas's jaw flexed. "She was my sister."

"She was mine too."

"Then act like it."

I tore the memory seal from beneath my shirt. The silver casing burned against my palm. Lucas's eyes dropped to it, then snapped back to mine.

"The panel first," he said.

"Your hand first."

"No."

"Then we stay here until your command finds us."

His stare sharpened. "Evelyn."

"Give me your hand."

Gunfire cracked somewhere above us. Dust sifted from the shaft ceiling and stung my eyes.

Lucas shoved his palm toward me. "If you take more than the seal needs—"

"You'll what? Arrest me?"

"I'll stop you."

"You can try."

I pulled the small blade from my boot and set the edge against his palm.

His fingers closed around the metal before I could cut him.

He was inches away. His breath brushed my cheek, hot and sharp. There wasn't enough room in the shaft for distance, and he knew it.

"Say you know what you're doing," he said.

"I know exactly what I'm doing."

"Say you won't panic when the memory hits."

"I don't panic."

His mouth twitched.