Chapter 9 · Taming the Hound

"Sit. Down. Now."

Kael slams me into the security console. His forearm crushes my collarbone and pins me there. Blood's soaking through his uniform, hot against my throat.

"You're bleeding out," I say. "And you're still playing guard dog for him?"

"Shut up." His fingers dig into my skin. His whole arm's shaking. "You don't get to talk about loyalty."

"Loyalty?" I laugh. It comes out short and sharp. "That's what you call this? He sent you to clean up his mess and you got gutted for it. That's not loyalty, Kael. That's a death sentence with a title."

"I said shut UP!" He gets right in my face. I can smell blood and ozone from the fried console. Heat rolls off him, frantic and fever-hot. His breath hits my cheek in ragged bursts.

I don't flinch. I slide my hand up and touch his wrist. Not to pull him off. Just to feel how hard he's vibrating.

"Look at me," I tell him. "Really look. Do I look like the spoiled princess they told you to put down?