Chapter 6 · Sparkbound - Chapter 6: A Heartbeat in the Walls

"Move, Wren. Now." Draven grabbed the back of her coat and hauled her away from the collapsing tunnel.

A slab of brick smashed down where her head had been. Dust punched into her mouth. She hit the wall hard enough to bite her tongue, then shoved Draven's arm away.

"Take your hands off me."

"You want to argue or breathe? Pick one."

"I can do both. I am talented."

"You are bleeding."

"So are you."

His eyes dropped to her wrist. The tether between them glowed under her skin, a thin gold line running from her pulse to his. His sleeve was dark with blood near the shoulder, and black veins crawled beneath his collar like ink spilled under glass.

The tunnel groaned again.

Draven stepped in front of her. Broad shoulders. One hand on the wall. The other locked around her wrist before she could slip past him.

"Stay behind me."

"That sounded almost concerned. Should I write it down?"

"You should stop trying to get killed."

"Then stop taking me places that collapse."

His fingers tightened.