Chapter 24 · Cillian!

She snapped her fingers.

The attendants rushed forward.

Kane swung the blade. One attendant jumped back. The other drove a shock-bracelet against Kane's forearm.

Kane's body locked.

Cillian felt the shock through the pact. His teeth slammed together. He shoved the staff into the attendant's ribs and dragged Kane free before the bracelet touched him again.

"Cillian!" Kane gasped.

"Stay with me."

"I'm trying."

"Try harder."

"You want to give orders? Get me out of here."

Cillian hauled him toward the instrument cabinet. His own legs barely worked, but Kane leaned into him, solid and hot against his side. The contact sent a strange rush through the pact, not pain this time. A quick, dangerous spark that made Cillian's grip tighten.

Kane noticed.

His eyes dropped to Cillian's mouth for half a second.

"Don't," Cillian said.

"I didn't say anything."

"You were about to."

"You sure?"

"Very."

"Then stop looking at me like that."

Cillian shoved him behind the cabinet. "Like what?"

Kane leaned close, his breath warm along Cillian's ear. "Like you want to save me more than you want to hate me."

Cillian's hand caught the front of Kane's coat.