Chapter 51 · Don't give her anything. She's trying to turn your camp against me

Rayne went very still.

Cole's eyes narrowed. "Don't give her anything. She's trying to turn your camp against me."

"You noticed," I said.

"Sera, if you take his blade, you become part of his command."

"I already am."

"No, you're not." Rayne's breath moved over my ear. "Not until you choose it."

His words hit harder than they had any right to.

I turned my head. Our faces were inches apart. His pupils had gone black around the edges, and the scent of him filled my lungs. Blood ran from his sleeve onto the ground, but his hand stayed warm against my stomach.

"You don't get to make this tender," I whispered.

"I'm not trying to."

"You keep looking at me like you want to kiss me."

His jaw tightened. "I keep looking at you because you're standing between a gun and my child."

"Your child?"

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

His gaze dropped to the pup in my arms.

"Give me the blade," I said.

Rayne drew it with his good hand.

The camp steel flashed under the blue tunnel light. He looked at it, then at me.