Chapter 32 · She pulled the trigger. The lower anchor snapped

She pulled the trigger.

The lower anchor snapped with a sound like a steel cable breaking. The gate folded inward, then punched back out. Kade wrapped both arms around her as a shockwave hurled them across the platform.

They hit hard.

Evelyn landed on top of him. His hand caught the back of her neck before her skull struck the metal. The impact drove the air from his lungs.

"Get off," he rasped.

"You caught me."

"I noticed."

"You could've moved."

"I was busy not letting you crack your head open."

Her face was close to his. Too close. She felt his breath catch beneath her, felt the bond answer with a hot pulse that ran from his skin into hers.

Kade's eyes dropped to her mouth.

The moment stretched.

Evelyn pushed away first. "Don't look at me like that."

His expression shut down. "Like what?"

"Like you forgot we're surrounded by a collapsing death machine."

"I didn't forget."

"Then act like it."

Kade rolled to his feet and offered her a hand. She ignored it and stood on her own.

A dozen Crown drones rose from the far end of the platform.