Chapter 36 · Burn It Yourself

"If you want me to believe you, burn the command yourself."

My mouth hovered inches from Lucas's ear. Smoke clung to his coat. His skin smelled like clean metal, blood, and heat.

His hands locked around my wrists.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me. Break your own system. Cut the private channel. Kill the protection seal. Tear out whatever leash your family wrapped around your throat."

His fingers dug into my skin.

"If I do that, the whole city loses its command shield."

"No. The city loses your family's shield. There's a difference."

"You don't know what happens when the grid goes blind."

"Neither do you, apparently."

"Evelyn."

"Don't say my name like it's a warning." I leaned closer, forcing every word between us. "You put me on the burn list. You don't get to make my name sound precious now."

His jaw tightened.

Outside the tunnel, boots thundered across the archive floor.

"Vale!" the marshal shouted. "Your sister's file is in that room. Step away from the target, and you might still keep your rank!"

Lucas went rigid.

I felt it through his hands.

"They know about the file," I whispered.

"They knew before we came in.