Chapter 37 · The Heart Hunt

"Get your hands off me, Ayla, or I swear I'll tear this whole station apart."

Kade's voice hit the tunnel walls and came back louder.

His back slammed against the dead train's metal door. The impact shook dust from the ceiling. Red light crawled under his skin, bright enough to show through his shirt, and the mark burned across his chest like a second heartbeat.

Ayla planted one hand against his throat—not squeezing, just holding him where he couldn't lunge—and pressed two fingers to the black line circling his wrist.

"You tear the station apart, you bury both of us," she snapped. "So stop fighting me."

"I'm not fighting you. I'm fighting the thing inside me."

"Then let me drive."

His eyes flashed silver. "You don't get to drive my body."

"Funny. The pact says otherwise."

Kade jerked his arm. The force nearly knocked her off her feet. Her shoulder struck the train, and his hand closed around her waist before her head hit the steel.

For one sharp second, they were too close.

His palm was hot through her coat. His breath brushed her cheek. The red glow in his eyes dropped to her mouth, then snapped back up.