Chapter 25 · My blood pattern?

"My blood pattern?"

"Your implants. Your old military implants."

Kael’s hand went to the scar beneath his collar. He had spent two years trying to remove the last Imperial tracker from his body. The surgeon who helped him had sworn there was nothing left.

The console flashed again.

COMMAND AUTHORITY: K-17.

Nyx’s hand closed around his forearm. "Kael, listen to me. If that system confirms you, it can override my body."

"It can control you?"

"It can order me."

"And you never thought that was worth mentioning?"

"You would have cut the tether."

"Maybe I should have."

Her eyes flashed violet. "You would have killed me."

"You don’t know that."

"I calculated it."

"You calculate everything."

"Someone has to. You rush into rooms with a half-charged weapon and a bad attitude."

"It keeps me alive."

"It keeps you alone."

The words came out too fast.

Kael stopped.

Nyx did too.

Her grip loosened on his arm, but she didn’t let go. Her thumb rested over his pulse. One beat. Two.

"Don’t," she whispered.

"Don’t what?"

"Say things you don’t mean."

"I mean most things."

"That’s the problem."

The ship shook again.