“I need a way to create acceleration. Um…” She looked around, then started to gather the rope looped through the cart’s handles and a pole attached to the side. Wedging the pole between two boards she checked the tension. It was bendable, but strong. Her hair brushed in the dirt as she bent and did a quick look at the wheels and axles. A few quick knots, creating a looped effect so the rope doubled over on itself, and she ran the other end back to the pole.
Her hands burned, the abrasive material scuffing her palms, but once released the spring tension should propel the cart forward. Then she bent down and crawled under the cart, straining to create the necessary force needed. Once it was in place she let go and the cart surged forward. It nearly crushed her in the process, but Kieran’s strong hands pulled her to safety.
Sera watched her creation roll forward, wondering if she had miscalculated somewhere.Would it work?
The cart thundered on its trajectory, her spring tension assuring it had enough momentum not to slow as it reached Cole’s barricade. Flames engulfed the cart, Sera’s cloth fuse catching instantly as it barreled through and then past the barricade completely to collide with the building next door.
“We should run.”
“Definitely,” Kieran agreed. They linked hands and raced until they were several yards away. He pulled her behind a stoop and ducked down, tucking her into his chest and holding her head with his hand. Another tense second passed and then aboom.The barest tremor at her feet vibrated the soles of her shoes.
Once the ringing in her ears subsided, Sera stood up to take in the scene. The fighting paused. All eyes on Cole.
The building she had hit slanted forward, toppling just as she predicted, and Cole had one final millisecond of awarenessbefore six floors crashed on top of him. The flames from her explosion licked at the storeroom near her old building, the fire now fanning out farther thanks to all the fuel scattering with the crash.
“Oops.”
Sera yanked Kieran back down just as another resounding explosion shook the earth. Her limbs were shaking as she got back to her feet.
Kieran rubbed at his ear, flexing his jaw. “That might have been overkill, Sera.”
“I… didn’t account for the spread,” Sera said.
“Are we satisfied that the job is done? Unless you think Cole could survive being crushed under a buildingandthe force of an explosion. Though…” He worked at one of his shoulders, rotating his arm. “Now that I’ve first-hand experience with Divinity, I will withhold assumptions.”
“First-hand?”
“The assassin tailing Seth.”
Sera leaned into his side. “You got all that from my ludicrous attempt at communication?”
He shrugged, moving his arm to wrap around her, hugging her into him and filling her with such a sense of ease and safety she thought she might fall asleep right there in the commotion of the street.
“I’m known to be rather intuitive.” His grip tightened. “Though I would prefer to not repeat such an exercise ever again.”
Sera pulled him with her. “I think we can let Wraith take it from here. He’s got people for this, I’m sure.” They walked from the carnage.
No one paid them attention as they turned a corner into a calmer street.
Once out of sight, Sera threw her arms around Kieran and indulged in the impulse that had been nagging at her since she found him with Seth in her apartment, knowing that he had risked everything to save her friend. Knowing that he had understood her.
He didn’t resist, returning her kiss and matching her enthusiasm with his own. His arms wrapped around her, solid and firm. Safe.
Sera fought the ache—it was subtle and no where near as demanding as the pleasure of Kieran’s lips—but their heads moved at an angle that made her flinch back in pain. The bruises on her jaw were still tender.
Panic filled Kieran’s eyes. “Are you alright?”
“Yes, fine. Perfectly fine.”
“I apologize, I was too rough. It’s probably best if we refrain—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence. Cole has taken enough already and he’s dead now. He doesn’t get to take this too.”
His answering smile was small, but warm. “But there’s no harm in waiting for an injury to heal.”
“Fuck my injury.” She pulled him closer, kissing him with more fire than before and she could sense him holding back, his reluctance to hurt her, but even that melted away until their embrace was entirely inappropriate for the middle of a street—even in this part of town.
He broke the kiss, breathing heavy. “We should find Seth.”
