Chapter 12 · Stop that

He crouched beside me instead of moving away. His knee pressed against mine. The closeness made the link hum, and his thoughts brushed mine—pain, pressure, calculation, and a violent need to keep me alive.

I shoved the last one back at him.

"Stop that."

"I'm not doing it on purpose."

"Control yourself."

"You try it."

"I am."

"You're holding my hand."

I looked down.

At some point, his fingers had closed over mine on the release wire. His hand covered most of it. His skin was hot. The rough edge of his glove scraped my knuckles.

He didn't move.

Neither did I.

The building groaned around us.

"If we die here," I said, "I'm haunting you."

"You already do that while alive."

"Julian."

"Pull the wire on three."

"You count."

"One."

"That was fast."

"Two."

"You're enjoying this."

"Three."

We pulled together.

The door blew outward. Julian dragged me down as a shock wave tore through the corridor. Shards of metal cut through the air. One struck his shoulder with a wet slap.

He grunted.

"You're hit," I said.

"Keep moving."

"You want me to carry you?"

"You couldn't."

"I carried you through a burning vault."

"You dropped me twice."