Chapter 18 · Stranger In Her Skin

“Don’t touch the door.”

Sloane’s hand froze inches from the metal panel.

Kael caught her wrist and pulled her back hard enough to slam her against his chest. Her shoulder blades hit him first. Then her breath caught as his arm locked across her ribs.

“Let go.”

“Three guards outside. One drone above us. The door is wired to a kill charge.”

“You could’ve started with that.”

“You were busy trying to get us killed.”

She twisted in his hold. Her hair brushed his jaw, soft and warm against skin that still felt half-burned from Victor’s machine. The pain under his ribs pulsed with every beat. Hers answered it a second later.

Sloane went rigid.

“You felt that,” he said.

“I felt you grab me.”

“Liar.”

“Control freak.”

“Brat.”

Her elbow drove into his side.

Kael grunted and released her. She spun, fist already coming up. He caught it before it reached his face, wrapped his fingers around hers, and pinned her hand against the wall beside her head.

Her eyes flashed silver for half a second.

Not human.