Chapter 25 · You said the seal would open the vault

"You said the seal would open the vault."

"It will. It may also mark you as the person who opened it."

"Already marked."

"Not like this."

Nora twisted against his hold. His fingers tightened.

"Let go."

"No."

"You don't get to chain me to you and then decide where I stand."

"You think I enjoy this?"

"You keep finding reasons to put your hands on me."

His stare dropped again, this time to the place where his thumb rested against her pulse.

The heat of him slipped beneath her skin. His thumb moved once. Nora felt it in her throat.

"If I wanted an excuse," he said, voice rough, "I wouldn't need the vault."

The words landed between them.

Nora's breath caught. She hated that he heard it.

"Try me," she whispered.

Lucan's eyes turned darker.

For one reckless second, the archive vanished. There was only his hand around her wrist, the solid line of his body, and the space between their mouths shrinking by inches.

Then the floor cracked.

Lucan shoved Nora behind him as black light burst from the red line. The force slammed into his chest and threw him into the shelves. Metal screamed.