Chapter 31 · she whispered

Mara shifted against me. Her fingers caught in the front of my shirt.

"Evelyn," she whispered. "Don't let him—"

Her voice broke into another cough.

I tightened my arm around her. "What? Don't let him what?"

Lucas dropped to one knee in front of Mara and reached for the mask.

I stepped between them. "Don't touch her."

"She's got less than a minute before the seal locks her lungs."

"Then tell me how to fix it."

"I just did. Put the mask on her."

"You put it on."

His eyes lifted to mine. "You want me that close?"

The question landed between us, hot and sharp.

His hand stayed suspended beside Mara's shoulder. His knuckles were scraped raw. Blood had dried in the lines of his palm.

I could feel his body heat through the thin space between us.

"Don't make this about you," I snapped.

"You're the one blocking me."

"Because every time you say trust me, somebody ends up bleeding."

"I'm bleeding."

"You know what I mean."

His stare held mine. "Do I?"

For half a second, neither of us moved.

The red light dragged across his face.