Chapter 25 · Alive On Every Screen

"Put the gun down, Lex." Cael's hand locked around my wrist before I could fire through the checkpoint drone.

"You shoot that thing, every hunter in three blocks gets our location."

"Then stop holding me."

"Stop trying to get us killed."

"I'm trying to get rid of you."

"Same problem." The drone's red lens snapped toward us. Cael shoved me behind a concrete support as a burst of blue rounds tore across the wall. Dust slapped my face. His body covered mine for one hard second, broad shoulders pressed against my chest, his coat dragging over my cheek. He smelled like metal, smoke, and the sharp clean heat of his skin.

"Move," he said.

"Now."

"You're bleeding."

"I noticed." A dark line ran from his side to the hem of his coat. Not a scratch. Blood dripped between us and hit my boot. I pushed at his chest.

"You took that shot for me."

"I took it because you froze."

"I don't freeze."

"You did when the gun was pointed at your head."

"I was thinking."

"You were staring."

"Your face was in the way." His mouth tightened.

"Keep telling yourself that.