Chapter 10 · Grind, Loot, Survive - Chapter 10: The Worst Bodyguard Ever

"Stop. Moving. Now."

Selene’s voice wasn’t a request. It was a blade. She had her hand clamped onto the back of Milo’s collar, practically dragging him into the shadow of a jagged obsidian pillar.

"I’m just saying," Milo whispered, his voice tight as he tried to twist around, "that if we just looped around the east ridge, we could probably skip this whole 'stealth' thing and just loot the cache while the guards are eating. I mean, look at them. They're literally chewing on giant beetles. Who does that?"

"Shut. Up," she hissed.

She slammed him back against the cold stone. The impact knocked the wind out of him, but it was the proximity that made his lungs stop working for a different reason. Selene was too close. Her chest was inches from his, the scent of ozone and something like winter mint clinging to her gear. Her eyes, sharp and predatory, were scanning the perimeter, but her body was pinned against his, keeping him anchored in the dark.

"One more word," she breathed, her lips almost touching his ear, "and I’ll tie your tongue to a rock and leave you for the scavengers. Do we have an understanding, rookie?"