Page 152 of Resurgent

“They are calling again,” I shoot back, twisting out of his grip and shoving him back half a step.

The ringing doesn’t stop.

It drills into the air—loud and insistent.

Korr ignores it completely, grabbing my arm and spinning me faster than I expect. My balance falters.

“Focus,” he snaps.

“Hard to focus when—”

“—when you’re looking for excuses?” His voice cuts clean and sharp. “You think when the enemy attacks they’ll automatically stop because you call for a pause? You know it doesn’t work like that.”

That hits. Hard.

My eyes flash, anger igniting fast and hot. “Don’t.”

“Then prove me wrong.”

Driving into him with everything I’ve got left—anger, frustration, the need to prove myself—and for a few seconds, it works. He gives ground. Actually gives ground. Our movements snap into sync, but this time, it’s more.

The world narrows to him and me and the space between us.

The phone keeps ringing.

I don’t know how long we’re sucked into the battle, but I’m straining for every breath when Korr finally breaks.

Not physically—he could keep going—but his hand closes around my wrist mid-strike, holding me there.

“Enough.”

I’m breathing hard, chest heaving. “You quitting on me?”

His gaze flicks past me, toward the bench where his phone is vibrating.

“No,” he says quietly. “But someone isn’t getting the hint.”

Violently picking up his phone, answers without even glancing back at me. “WHAT?”

I watch him, something uneasy curling low in my stomach as I try to tally up exactly how many times the caller must have hit redial.

Silence stretches as Korr listens to whoever is on the other end…and then I see it.

A shift.

His shoulders go still. His jaw tightens. Whatever’s being said on the other end, it lands hard.

“Where?” he asks.

Another pause.

“Stay there. Don’t let anyone touch anything until I get there.”

He hangs up, and as his eyes meet mine, all the heat from the fight drains out of me, replaced by something far less confident.

“What is it?”

He looks at me, regret fueling his expression.