Chapter 14 · Then the Transport Jolted Again, and Lucas Shoved

The transport slammed sideways, throwing Lucas into the wall.

He caught himself, shoved upright, and pointed at the rear hatch.

"Move."

I wiped blood from my mouth. "You first."

His eyes cut to mine. "I said move."

"And I said—"

A brutal cough tore through me.

My body folded. Fire scraped down my throat and clawed into my lungs. The quarantine gas had found every inch of me.

Lucas grabbed my arm before my knees hit the floor.

"What?" I rasped.

His face hardened. "You need air."

"Brilliant observation."

He ripped open the emergency pouch at his belt and pulled out a small canister. The seal was red.

I reached for it.

He held it just out of reach.

"No."

"Give me that."

"One breath at a time."

"You don't get to ration my air."

"I do when I have the canister."

The transport lurched again. Lucas braced one hand against the wall and lifted the canister to his mouth with the other.

He took one breath.

Then another.

His throat moved beneath the edge of his uniform collar. Clean air passed his lips while poison shredded mine.

I stared at the canister.

Of course he noticed.

"Ask," he said.