Chapter 20 · The Drowned Cradle

"Brace for impact!" Brant's voice cracked through the command deck. "Cassian, we're coming in too fast!"

"How fast?" Cassian shouted.

"Fast enough to turn us into a coffin!"

The ironclad slammed into the trench wall.

Every bolt in the deck screamed. Cassian's shoulder smashed against the control rail, and the impact ripped the breath out of him. Lyra flew across the cabin, hit the bulkhead, and dropped hard beside the navigation ring.

The red collision lamps flashed over her pale face.

"Lyra!"

"Don't touch me!" she snapped, trying to push herself up.

The ship rolled again. Her hand slipped on the deck. Cassian caught her around the waist before her skull met the steel.

She drove an elbow into his ribs.

"Let go!"

"You want to die standing?"

"I want your hands off me."

"Pick one."

Another impact punched through the hull. The command deck tilted so sharply that Lyra slid into Cassian's chest. His arm locked around her, holding her against him while the floor became a wall.

Her coat scraped against his. Her breath hit his throat, hot and quick, even with the freezing air pouring from the ruptured vents.

"You're crushing me," she said.

"You're welcome.