Lucien POVThe iron door of the maintenance shaft buckled under my shoulder.Sparks flew off the broken latch as I shoved the heavy frame wide. Dust filled the hallway, thick with the sharp smell of burnt copper and old blood.Kael stepped out first. His dark hood was pulled low over his forehead, hiding his face in shadows. He held his pulse rifle tight against his chest, his boots clicking hard against the wet marble.I stepped into his space instantly. My left hand reached out on its own, catching the edge of his velvet coat and pulling the heavy fabric tight across his stomach.Kael stopped, snapping his head up. His silver-ringed eyes glared at me from beneath his hood. "What are you doing, Vale?""Your coat is loose," I said. My voice sounded lower than usual, thick with a strange, heavy pressure in my throat."It is a coat, not a harness," Kael muttered, trying to pull away.I did not let go. My thumb pressed into the heavy velvet, smoothing the seam over his hip until the cold
Last Updated : 2026-09-16 Read more