Chapter 9 · he rasped

She shoved power into the link.

The effect was immediate. Kael's body arched. The monitor flashed once, then twice. His hand clamped around her wrist with sudden strength.

His palm was hot now. Heat raced up her arm beneath his fingers. His grip hurt, but she didn't pull away.

"Stop," he rasped.

"No."

"You'll burn out."

"Then burn with me."

His gaze found hers. The room was still flashing red around them, but his eyes held steady on her face. His thumb pressed once against her pulse, like he was checking whether she was real.

"You don't know what you're doing," he said.

"Neither do you. You still keep following me around."

"You ordered me."

"You could've walked away."

"Couldn't."

The word landed harder than it should have.

Sloane swallowed. His fingers remained around her wrist. The heat of him spread through her skin, and for one dangerous second the room narrowed to his hand, his breath, and the way he was looking at her like she was the last thing between him and the dark.

She tugged against his grip. "Let go."

He didn't.

"Say please.