Chapter 33 · The Stranger's Dead Warning

"Get your head down or lose it!" Kael’s voice cracked like a whip right in my ear.

Before I could even blink, his arm slammed across my chest, pinning me flat against the cold, damp stone of the corridor. A split second later, a blast of concussive force ripped through the air where my head had been. Dust and pulverized rock rained down on us, choking the air into a thick, grey soup.

I coughed, my lungs burning, and tried to shove his arm off. "Get off me, you golden idiot! I can handle a few pebbles!"

"Pebbles?" Kael hissed. He didn't move an inch, his body a heavy, warm weight pressing me into the grit. He shifted his grip, his fingers digging into the fabric of my jacket, pulling me tighter against him. "That was a sonic pulse. One more and your eardrums would be confetti. Now stay. Still."

I glared up at him. From this angle, his jawline looked like it had been carved by a vengeful god, all sharp edges and righteous fury. But there was something else in his eyes—not just the 'hero' protecting the 'victim.' There was a hunger there.