Chapter 46 · You haven't protected me from anything

I turned my head. We were too close. His mouth was inches from mine, his fingers spread over my ribs like he could feel every frantic beat under my skin.

"You haven't protected me from anything," I whispered. "You just keep making sure I'm there when it happens."

His gaze dropped to my mouth.

For one second, the alarms, the gates, and Sevryn's quiet breathing fell away.

Then Calian kissed me.

It wasn't gentle. It was fast, angry, and careful all at once, like he wanted to pull me closer and shove me away before either of us could ask what it meant. His mouth was warm. His thumb pressed into my side. The oath-mark on my wrist flared between us.

I caught his coat and kissed him back.

His breath broke against my lips.

Noah made a rough sound from the floor. "I swear, if I survive this, I'm charging both of you for emotional damage."

I pulled away first, breathing hard.

Calian kept his forehead against mine.

"You can leave," he said.

I blinked.