Chapter 13 · The Contract Upgrade

"You’re shaking, Nova. Is it fear, or are you just that cold?"

Kael’s voice was too smooth, like polished glass. He didn't move, but I could feel him crowding my space, the heat from his chest radiating through the thin fabric of my shirt. I was backed against the cold metal of the wall in the Sanctuary’s lower ward, my breath coming in short, jagged hitches.

I glared up at him, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm fine. Just get your hand off the wall before I bite it."

He didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned closer, his shoulder brushing mine. The scent of ozone and something clean—like rain on concrete—hit me. It was the smell of a man who had never spent a night sleeping in a gutter or hiding from assassins. A golden boy. A perfect, irritating saint.

"You’re a terrible liar," he whispered. His eyes searched mine, not with pity, but with a hunger that made my skin prickle. "Silas sent another message, didn't he?"

I stiffened. I hadn't told him about the latest ping on my encrypted device. I didn't want him knowing how tight the leash was getting. "None of your business, Kael.