Chapter 11 · Dangerous Deal

"Sit. Now."

Kane didn't even look at me as he pointed to the rusted metal chair in the center of the room. His voice was like a blade—cold, sharp, and leaving no room for a 'no.'

I didn't sit. I leaned against the damp wall, crossing my arms. "I don't take orders from guys who almost let a swarm of cave-rats eat me alive."

He finally looked up. His eyes were dark, scanning me like I was a piece of faulty equipment he was deciding whether to fix or scrap. He moved fast—too fast. Before I could even blink, he was in my space, his hand slamming into the wall right next to my ear. The sound echoed like a gunshot in the small room.

"You're not a guest, Jessa," he hissed, his breath warm against my cheek. "You're a glitch. A mistake in the Maw's code that somehow learned how to talk back. Give me one reason why I shouldn't just toss you back into the pit and watch you pop again."

I didn't flinch. I couldn't afford to. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the scent of ozone and old blood clinging to his gear.