Chapter 21 · Shadow of the Hunter

"Run, Kane! Move!" Lyra slammed both hands into his chest and shoved him out of the path of the plasma round.

The shot tore through the scrap wall behind him. Melted metal sprayed across the alley, hot enough to turn the air white.

Kane hit the ground on one knee. Lyra grabbed his collar and yanked him behind a collapsed transport engine.

"That was your warning," she snapped. "The next one goes through your skull."

He stared at her hand on his jacket.

Not because of the threat. Not because of the rifle fire cracking over their heads.

Because he heard a voice behind the smoke.

"Kane."

His fingers locked around the edge of the engine.

Lyra crouched beside him. "You know that voice?"

Another shot punched through the engine block. The metal screamed inches from Kane's ear.

"Kane." The voice came again, calm and close. "You always were slow when you had a choice to make."

Kane stopped breathing.

Lyra's eyes narrowed. She slapped his cheek once. Not hard enough to hurt. Hard enough to pull him back.

"Hey. Look at me."

He looked at her, but the alley had already changed.

The broken towers.