“The trigger mechanism has corroded,” the battle-droid announced, shattering the brittle hush around the central core. “It has now fused. If you remove your hand, or if we tamper with it, the detonator will explode.”
Cathal made a choking sound. “Of course, it’s been sitting in there for fifty years … and never been serviced. I can’t believe I kept that escape tunnel maintained but forgot about the fucking detonator.”
“Cathal,” Isla whispered, taking a cautious step toward her husband. “What have you done?”
A nerve jumped in the clan-lord’s jaw, and he held up his free hand. “Stop, Isla … best you don’t touch me.” His gaze fused with hers then. “I’m sorry, my love … it looks like I’ve just made a huge mistake.” He broke off there, swallowing once more. “Since we were escaping, I intended to set the timer on the detonator first … to prevent the Mir-Ferrins from enjoying the prize they’d stolen.”
“Why?” Jenna gasped, her eyes wide with horror. “Wasn’t escaping enough?”
Her brother’s expression turned grim. “I had to do it. This tower is swarming with Mir-Ferrin troops. The moment we leftThe Passage, they’d be hunting us. We’d never have gotten off the planet.”
“We’d have had to lie low for a bit,” Malik admitted, focusing once more on the counter.Ten minutes. “But we’d have managed it. There was no need for extreme measures.”
Cathal shook his head. Sweat gleamed off his bloodless face now. “In a few minutes, this core is going to explode and blow this building sky-high … you all must leave before it does.”
Isla let out a wail and rushed forward. However, Vic caught her, holding her fast as she struggled.
“No, Cathal!” Jenna choked out. Her face was stricken. “We’re not leaving you here!”
“You have to, Jen,” he ground out. “There’s no stopping this.”
“No!”
Brother and sister stared at each other. “You lead our clan now,” Cathal rasped. “The fight against the Mir-Ferrins has only just begun. You can still lead our people to victory, you can still take back what was lost.”
She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears.
The clan-lord inhaled sharply. “Listen to me, Jen … during my interrogation, Tian revealed that the attempt on my life at your wedding washisdoing. The Mir-Lelith ambassador was a Mir-Ferrin sleeper agent. You need to let the Mir-Leliths know … it will help rebuild our relationship with them.”
Jenna swallowed a sob. “I don’t care about that.”
“You must … I’m passing the torch to you now.” There was steel in that look, a determination that would not be argued with. Cathal was afraid, but he’d mastered it. He glanced over at Malik once more. “Take her and the others to safety, Captain.”
“No!” Isla sobbed, still fighting Vic’s iron grip.
Cathal shook his head. His gaze seized hers. “I love you, Isla.”
“And I love you!” Isla cried, hysterical now, tears pouring down her face. “Don’t sacrifice yourself like this!”
“I’ve been left with little choice.” Cathal’s features tightened before he shifted his attention to Malik. “Do it.”
“Don’t you dare.” Jenna shot Malik a warning look. “There must be a way to stop this thing!”
“Captain,” Cathal growled. “Do your duty.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Jenna countered, her voice hardening.
Malik hesitated.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Vic growled, “but wereallydon’t have time for this.”
Malik ignored the cyborg, his gaze riveted upon Jenna.
“Captain.” Cathal’s voice turned to steel. “You knelt before me and swore an oath … to obey your clan-lord in all things.”
Gut clenching, Malik shifted his attention back to Cathal.
The clan-lord stared him down. “Was that an empty promise?”
