Chapter 10 · The Command Seal

"Stay quiet."

Dorian bent close, his mouth nearly brushing my ear.

I stared at the badge locked in his fist. "Your precious command seal probably already told them where we are."

"It hasn't given them the route yet."

"Yet?"

The metal clicked.

A woman's voice slipped through the tunnel, calm and close enough to crawl under my skin.

"Commander, proceed west. The council will handle the girl."

My throat tightened. "The girl?"

Dorian crushed the badge in his hand.

Metal folded with a sharp crunch.

His eyes stayed on the tunnel ahead. "That isn't the council's voice."

"You recognize it?"

"No."

"You hesitated."

His jaw locked. "I said no."

"You lied."

He moved before I could step back.

One arm slammed against the wall beside my head. His other hand covered my mouth. Firm, but careful. His thumb rested beneath my cheekbone, hot against my skin.

His face came close enough for his breath to touch my lips.

Footsteps thundered overhead.

I could've bitten him.

I could've turned my face and kissed the pulse jumping in his throat.

That was