Chapter 23 · The Flood Order

"You hear that? You're property now."

Cassian's words slammed into me harder than the tunnel wall at my back.

"I heard you." I shoved against the stone. "And I hated every word."

"Good." His eyes stayed on mine. "Stay angry."

The tunnel dropped toward the core chamber. Ice-cold water rushed over my boots, soaking through my clothes and biting my toes numb. Cassian kept one hand at my back, guiding me around broken grates and cables spitting blue sparks.

I slapped his hand away.

"I can walk."

"Then walk beside me."

"Not behind you?"

His mouth tightened. "Never behind me."

That shouldn't have mattered.

It did.

I moved up beside him. My shoulder brushed his arm. He was hot even through his soaked coat, and every step pressed that heat into me. The bond beneath my ribs answered with a hard pulse.

My teeth clenched.

"Stop doing that," I muttered.

"Doing what?"

"Making me notice you."

His gaze dropped to my mouth. It stayed there one second too long.

"I'm not the one noticing."

"Keep talking and I'll shove you into the water."

"You'd have to let go first."

I turned on him, but the core door came into view.