Chapter 34 · Skyward Ram

"Cut the harpoons or I throw you overboard!" Cassian shouted as the dreadnought's magnetic lines dragged the ironclad sideways through the black sea.

Brant slammed both hands onto the engine console. "Great plan. Which part of the ship do you want me to sacrifice first?"

"The part holding us down."

"That would be the whole damn hull!"

A shell struck above them. The deck jumped hard enough to throw Lyra into the navigation rail. Cassian caught her before her shoulder hit the steel. His hand locked around her waist. Her coat scraped against his burning sleeve, and the sharp smell of scorched wool filled the cramped control bay.

"Let go," she snapped.

"Stand up first."

"I can stand."

"Then do it."

She shoved his chest. The ironclad rolled again, and her palm stayed against him for one ugly second too long. Cassian felt her fingers tighten through his coat. He also felt the tremor running up her arm.

She hated that he noticed.

"Don't look at me like that," Lyra said.

"Like what?"

"Like you just caught something you plan to keep."

Cassian released her and turned toward the forward glass. "I keep what survives.