Chapter 18 · The Tape Elise Left Behind

"Keep moving."

Kieran's hand clamped around my wrist—not the bonded one, the other—and dragged me through the tunnel before Elise's voice could finish echoing.

"She said you killed her."

"I heard her."

I dug my heels into the slick floor. His fingers tightened. "Then stop acting like I imagined it. She said you killed her, Kieran."

He turned so fast I nearly hit his chest. His face was inches from mine, his breath hot against my cheek. The bond throbbed between us, carrying every hard beat of his pulse straight under my skin.

He wasn't calm.

He was scared out of his mind.

"If we stop here," he said, voice low, "you'll find out exactly how true it is."

"That supposed to make me walk faster?"

"It's supposed to keep you alive."

"You don't get to threaten me and call it protection."

His gaze dropped to my mouth for half a second. Then he released my wrist like the contact had burned him.

"Fine. Hate me while you move."

"Already doing both."

"Good."

He spun around and kept going.