Chapter 33 · You did that on purpose

He kicked my knee.

I dropped.

Lyra came in from the side, but the second stalker fired from behind the pillar. She saw the bolt too late.

I grabbed her waist and pulled her down with me.

The bolt sliced through her sleeve and buried itself in the wall.

She landed on top of me, one hand braced beside my head. Her hair fell across both our faces.

"You did that on purpose," she said.

"Yes. I love getting shot at."

"You pulled me down."

"You were about to get pinned to the wall."

"And you couldn't warn me?"

"I did. You were busy being reckless."

She stared at me for one tight beat.

Her face was close enough that I felt her breath touch my mouth.

The fight continued around us, but the sound thinned. Her fingers pressed into the stone beside my ear. My hand was still at her waist. I could feel her pulse jumping under my palm.

Then she looked down at my hand.

"Move it."

I did not.

"Kael."

"Say please."

"Move your hand or I break it."

"That wasn't please.