Chapter 27 · You threatened my heart

"You threatened my heart."

"You put a shock collar in my spine."

"It was a safety measure."

"It was a leash."

The red line brightened.

Kael grabbed Nyx by both shoulders and forced her to face him. She was close enough that he could feel the faint heat coming off her cheeks. Her eyes flicked to his mouth, then away.

He noticed.

She noticed him noticing.

"Don’t," she said.

"Don’t what?"

"Look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you’re deciding whether I’m worth saving."

His grip loosened, but he didn’t let go. "I decided that a long time ago."

Her expression cracked for one sharp second.

Then the hull exploded inward.

The emergency hatch buckled. A blast of heat threw Kael across the deck. Nyx hit the floor beside him, her shoulder scraping hard against the metal.

Three Imperial drones pushed through the torn hatch. Their black armor reflected the emergency lights. Each carried a pulse rifle.

"Down!" Kael shouted.

Nyx rolled behind the console as the first volley tore through the command deck. Sparks burst from the ceiling.