Chapter 24 · Hunter and Prey

"Move, Sera. Now." Kael shoved the barrel of his pistol against my ribs and dragged me behind the cracked concrete pillar before the execution lights swept across the tunnel.

"You keep pointing that thing at me, and I’ll make you regret having hands."

"You can threaten me after we’re not being hunted."

"We are always being hunted. You’re just finally paying attention."

His jaw tightened. The pistol stayed pressed to me.

Across the underground platform, red beams cut through the dust. Three church hunters moved between the dead train cars, their masks glowing with thin white crosses. One carried a shock rifle. Another held the leash of a black hound with silver plates bolted over its skull.

The hound stopped.

Its head turned toward us.

Kael leaned closer, one hand braced beside my face. His coat brushed my shoulder. He smelled like gun oil, cold metal, and the sharp cedar soap he used when he thought nobody noticed.

I noticed.

I also noticed his pulse jumping beneath the skin of his throat.

"Don’t breathe so loud," he whispered.

I stared at him. "You’re the one crushing my ribs.