Chapter 44 · The Flood Target

His mouth crashed onto mine.

For one clean second, the flood vanished.

His lips were hot and rough at the edges, careful where it mattered. Salt and blood spread across my tongue. His hand slid up my back and dragged me against him, while the mark beneath my palm burned like it wanted out of my skin.

I kissed him back because I was furious.

Because I'd wanted this before he threw me away.

Because his breath shook when I opened my mouth under his, and that tiny weakness felt like the first honest thing he'd ever given me.

He pulled away too soon.

"I need to give you my last clean breath."

I stared at him through the rising water. "That's a terrible line."

"It's not a line."

"Then what the hell does it mean?"

His arm stayed locked around my waist. His soaked coat dragged against my shirt, cold and heavy, but his body burned against mine.

"The gate is poisoning the current," he said. "My tide can force it out of you, but I've got one clean breath left. After that, I won't have enough to pull us both free."

"Then don't give it to me.