Chapter 30 · Your heart's racing

He shoved the last Crown agent into the door and followed her into the shaft. The door slammed shut behind them. Something heavy hit it from the other side.

They stood shoulder to shoulder in the dark, pinned between hot pipes and a wall that trembled with every impact.

Kade's arm was braced above her head. His body blocked the only clear path. His knee touched hers. The bond pulled their heartbeats into the same hard rhythm.

Evelyn pressed her palm to his chest.

"Your heart's racing."

"Yours too."

"Mine has a reason."

"So does mine."

The shaft lights flickered on. His face appeared inches away, cut cheek and all. A strand of hair had fallen across his forehead. He looked less like the Crown's perfect weapon and more like a man who had been pushed too far and didn't know where to put the anger.

Evelyn swallowed. "What do you remember?"

His gaze held hers.

"Enough to know my memories can't be trusted."

"That wasn't an answer."

"It is the only one I have."

"You burned your clearance for me. Why?"

Kade's fingers curled against the pipe above her. "Because the Crown wanted your pain."

"They wanted my route."