Chapter 53

FIFTY-THREE

A sher triggered every emergency protocol she’d reprogrammed, transforming the facility into beautiful chaos. Sprinklers activated in specific sections, creating barriers of cold iron-infused water. Ventilation fans reversed, spreading confusion through dragon senses. Security doors opened and closed in apparently random patterns that actually followed prime number sequences.

Show-off, he sent, even as he and Levi used the chaos to advance.

You love it, she thought back, running calculations for her next move. Besides, someone has to add style to this operation. Your solution to everything is ‘hit it harder.’

It’s a valid tactical approach. His amusement colored the words despite the situation.

So is applied chaos theory. She smiled grimly as more alarms joined the symphony of disruption. Speaking of which...

She reached the central lab just as a soldier caught up to her. This time she was ready. The neural shield’s frequency shifted precisely as she’d calculated, sending out a pulse that dropped him to his knees.

“Fun fact about dragon physiology,” she said, backing toward the room’s main computer console. “Your enhanced senses make you particularly vulnerable to certain quantum resonances. I have charts. And graphs. And absolutely no patience left for amateur megalomaniacs.”

Asher’s fingers pounded across the console, initiating the system’s shutdown sequence while keeping the soldier at bay with targeted energy pulses. Her powers flickered dangerously - each burst weaker than the last.

“Your hybrid abilities are failing,” the man taunted, circling closer. “You can feel it, can’t you? The dragon part of you dying?”

“Bold of you to assume I need dragon powers to kick your ass.” She triggered another pulse, but this time barely a spark emerged. “I have science. And spite. Mostly spite, right now.”

The console beeped as the shutdown reached its critical phase. Just a few more sequences and-

Pain exploded through her chest as Dimitri materialized behind her, driving a cold iron blade deep into her shoulder. Talon’s roar of rage and terror filled her mind, making her body shake.

“I expected better from Talon’s mate,” Dimitri said softly, twisting the blade. “Though I suppose he always did have questionable taste.”

Asher’s vision blurred, dark veins spreading rapidly from the wound. Her dragon powers sputtered and died completely. But her fingers never stopped moving across the keys, even as blood dripped onto the console.

“You know what your mistake is?” she managed, fighting to stay conscious. “Besides the obvious tyranny and fashion choices?”

She hit the final sequence just as her legs gave out. “You assumed I needed powers to beat you. I just needed you to monologue long enough to finish the shutdown code.”

The device’s core began to pulse with unstable energy. Dimitri’s eyes widened as he realized what she’d done. He yanked the blade out, making her cry out in pain that echoed through her bond with Talon.

He was coming, his fury shaking the very foundations of the facility. Hurry, she said weakly.

The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was Dimitri’s face twisting with rage as Talon burst through the wall, his dragon form radiating deadly purpose.