Chapter 73 · The Heir's Mark

"Get your hand off the kill switch."

I slammed Lucas's wrist against the tower console before his fingers could close around it.

His palm smacked metal. A red line flared beneath his skin, racing from his wrist toward his elbow.

"Move, Evelyn."

"No."

"That wasn't a request."

"Good. I wasn't treating it like one."

The tower shook hard enough to knock dust from the ceiling. Below us, boots thundered up the outer stairs, one level after another.

Lucas glanced at the sealed doors. His jaw locked.

"They're here."

"I noticed."

"The strike team doesn't negotiate."

"Neither do I."

He ripped his wrist free. I caught the front of his coat and shoved him back against the console.

The hard edge dug into his spine. His breath hit my cheek, hot and sharp with smoke and metal.

For half a second, he stopped fighting.

His eyes dropped to my mouth.

Then they snapped back to mine.

"You really want to do this now?" he asked.

"You really want to die for your father's order?"

The red line beneath his skin pulsed.

"It's not my father's order."

"Your family seal is on it. Your command code is carrying it.