Chapter 14 · Wrong Kind of Savior

"Put the knife down, Jessa."

Kane's voice came from behind me, rough and low. His hand locked around my wrist before I could drive the blade into the armored crawler's throat.

The crawler clicked its jaws.

I looked at the black plates covering its face, then at Kane's fingers around me. His grip was tight. Not cruel. Just certain.

"You first," I said.

"I'm not holding a knife."

"You're holding me. That's worse."

His thumb pressed against my pulse. I felt the tiny pause in his hand when he noticed how fast it was beating.

The crawler shoved forward.

Kane yanked me sideways. Its hooked claw scraped across the wall where my head had been. Stone burst into my hair.

"Move," he snapped.

"You said put it down."

"I changed my mind."

"Good. I hate consistency."

He dragged me through the narrow crack behind the broken pillar. I hit his chest, hard enough to knock the breath out of both of us. His armor was cold against my shoulder. Under it, his body was hot. Too hot for a man who had lost that much blood.

He shoved one hand against the stone beside my head and leaned over me.