Chapter 45 · You cheated

He didn't look at the weapon. He looked at me.

That was the trick. Kael never watched the thing that could kill him. He watched the person holding it, like he had already decided what they would do.

I hated that he was usually right.

The first breaching charge beeped.

Kael moved.

He crossed the space between us before I could swing. His fingers closed over my knife hand, and his shoulder knocked mine into the console. The blade clattered away.

"You cheated," I said.

"You hesitated."

"I did not."

"You aimed at my side instead of my heart."

His chest pressed against mine. The edge of the console dug into my back. His hand trapped mine between us, palm to palm.

The glitch vanished again.

I felt it happen.

My body went still beneath his.

His face was inches from mine. A loose strand of his dark hair brushed his brow. His breath touched my cheek, warm and even.

"You need me," he said.

The words were quiet. No victory in them. No smugness.

That scared me more than arrogance would have.

"I need the signal," I said.

"Same result."

"Don't confuse survival with trust."

"I don't.