Chapter 26 · The Fixer Who Sold Us

"Step away from the door, Lex." Cael's hand locked around my wrist before I could touch the emergency latch. "Now." He was bleeding through the bandage I'd forced over his side, and somehow he still sounded like he owned the room.

"Let go."

"No."

"Milo could be trapped behind that door."

"And the door is wired to cut your throat if you open it." He pulled me back against his chest. His breath brushed my ear, warm and rough. "You want to check? Go ahead. I’ll hold you still while it happens."

I stared at the black metal latch. A thin red line crawled beneath it. Not a light. A laser filament.

My pulse jumped.

Cael felt it. Of course he did. The ghost-link tightened between us, carrying the spike of fear straight into his body. His fingers closed harder around my wrist.

"Don’t," he said.

"Don’t what? Notice that you’re enjoying having an excuse to grab me?"

His jaw flexed. "You’re shaking."

"I’m angry."

"You’re scared."

"I’m going to bite you if you keep—"

A voice crackled from the dark behind the workbenches.

"You two done flirting, or should I give you another minute?"

I spun toward the sound.