Chapter 58 · Let me take control

He crossed the distance between them. In the real room, Sylvia's fingers tightened around the needle. In the mindscape, Cassian stopped close enough that she felt the heat of him against her cheek.

"Let me take control," he said.

"Absolutely not."

"You cannot fight Veyr and the hunters while your body is tearing itself apart."

"Watch me."

"I am watching. That is the problem."

His hand rose toward her face and stopped before touching her.

The pause got under her skin.

She could feel his breath. Warm. Slow. Too close.

"You think I will hurt you," Cassian said.

"I know you will."

"I have had control for less than a minute at a time."

"And every time, you take more."

"Because you keep collapsing."

"Because you keep forcing your way through me."

His gaze dropped to her mouth, then snapped back to her eyes.

The movement was quick, but she saw it.

So did he.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"You are the one who keeps staring."

"I am checking your pupils."

"From this distance?"

"You don't have pupils in here."

"Then stop pretending this is a medical exam.