Chapter 36 · Cracks in the Halo

"Don't look where he went. Look at me."

Cane's palm slammed into the rock right next to Selena's head. Hard. Dust rained down on her hair. "Eyes on me, saint. Only me."

"Get your hand off me," she snapped, but her voice shook. "You don't own my eyes."

"I own everything you do in here." He leaned in, close enough that his breath hit her cheek. Hot. Angry. "He walks into my house, talks shit, touches what's mine, and you stare after him like you're thinking about following?"

"I wasn't!" She shoved at his chest. He didn't move. Not an inch. "I was terrified, you idiot! He just tore the Void open like paper!"

"And I closed it." His other hand came up, fingers brushing her jaw, not gentle. Possessive. "So why do you look like you want to run to him?"

"Because you're acting insane!" She knocked his hand away. Her halo flickered above her head, light stuttering. Crackling. "You're choking me with this place! I can't breathe!"

"Good." He pressed closer, his body pinning hers to the cold stone. The Void pulsed around them, black and restless. "You should feel it. What it feels like to be kept."