Chapter 33 · The Hero Goes Live

"If you touch that camera, I break your hand." Kane caught my wrist before my fingers reached the broadcast console.

His grip was hot. Too hot. The gold lines under my skin flashed in answer, crawling from my palm to my elbow.

I jerked against him. "Then stop standing between me and the only thing keeping the Bureau from cutting me open on live television."

"That camera is the only thing keeping them from blowing this room apart."

"Funny. You used to love cameras."

His jaw tightened. Behind him, three monitors showed the same image: Vivian's face, calm and perfect, framed by the Core Bureau seal. Across the bottom of the feed, a red banner screamed TRAITOR ENFORCER SELAH VALE TO BE EXECUTED AT MIDNIGHT.

The countdown read 00:07:42.

Kane glanced at it, then back at me. "You have seven minutes before Vivian turns you into a national apology."

"And your plan is what? Smile harder?"

"My plan is to go live."

I laughed once. It came out rough. "You? On an unscripted feed?"

"Yes."

"You can't even sneeze without a Bureau handler approving the angle."

He stepped closer, forcing me back against the console.