"Actually, I'm here for the drive," he said, stepping forward. Every step he took felt like the air was getting heavier, not because of my power, but because of his presence. He didn't just occupy space; he owned it. "And maybe to see if you're still as fierce as they said you were. Turns out, you're just... messy."
"Get lost," I snapped, raising my hand to blast him.
In a blur of motion—faster than my eyes could track—he was there. Not in front of me, but *behind* me. His arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest, while his other hand clamped over my mouth, cutting off my scream.
I fought. I thrashed. I tried to summon the Void, but the moment I touched him, something happened. A jolt of electricity—no, something deeper—shot through my spine. It wasn't pain. It was a sudden, violent drain. My energy didn't just vanish; it flowed into him.
"Stop fighting, Selah," he whispered into my ear. His breath was warm, smelling of mint and something metallic. His grip was like iron, pinning my arms to my sides. "The more you struggle, the more of you I get to keep. And trust me, you're running on empty."
I managed to twist my head, glaring at him. "Let... go..."
"In a minute," he murmured. He didn't sound like a hero. He sounded like a predator who had just found a very interesting toy. He leaned in closer, his chest pressing into my back, the friction of his tactical suit against my torn clothes sending a strange shiver through me. "You're a traitor, a fugitive, and currently, the most hated woman in the city. You have absolutely nothing left."
He shifted his grip, his fingers digging into my hip. The power dynamic was sickeningly clear. He held my life, my breath, and my remaining strength in his hands.
"But," Kane continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous, intimate level, "I might have a use for a fallen star. If you're willing to pay the price."
I tried to bite his hand, but he just chuckled, a low vibration I felt in my own ribs. He leaned back just enough to look me in the eyes. His gaze wasn't kind. It was cold, calculating, and hungry.
"What... price?" I managed to choke out.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced over at Marcus, who was still gasping for air on the ground. Kane's expression didn't change, but the air around him suddenly turned frigid.
"First," Kane said, his voice losing all its warmth, "we deal with the trash."
He released me abruptly, and before I could even find my footing, he moved. He didn't use a flashy attack. He simply stepped toward Marcus and placed a hand on the man's shoulder. A flash of blinding gold light erupted, and Marcus was thrown backward with such force that he smashed through a brick wall, disappearing into a cloud of dust and rubble.
Kane didn't even look to see if he survived. He turned back to me, his eyes locking onto mine. He stepped closer, invading my space until I was forced back against the damp wall. He placed one hand beside my head, trapping me.
"Now," he whispered, his face inches from mine. I could see the gold flecks in his irises, the absolute certainty in his expression. "Let's talk about your survival. Because right now, the only reason you're still breathing is because I decided I like the way you fight."
I glared up at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. "I'd rather die than sign anything with you."
Kane smiled. It wasn't a friendly smile. It was the smile of a man who knew exactly how much I was lying.
"Oh, you'll sign," he said, his voice a low promise. "You'll sign, you'll obey, and you'll belong to me until I decide otherwise. Do we have a deal, or should I just call Vivian and tell her I found your corpse?"
I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell, but the sound of sirens began to wail from the end of the street. Dozens of them. The Bureau's tactical teams were closing in.
Kane's eyes flickered toward the street, then back to me. He didn't move away. If anything, he pressed closer, his thigh brushing against mine, his presence overwhelming.
"Last chance, Selah," he whispered, his hand sliding from the wall to grip my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Do you want to be a martyr, or do you want to burn the world down with me?"
I looked at the sirens, then at the man who was my sworn enemy, and I felt the trap snap shut.