I run my hand down her back. My fingers get caught in curled tendrils of her hair.
She tenses. “Ow.”
“Sorry,” I murmur.
“Are you mad at me?” Leigh whispers.
Technically, I am furious, but that’s the last thing she wants to hear. What she’s done is foolish and reckless. But have Iacted any differently? I chased after her into this unknown realm without backup or a full-fledged plan.
“Hey.” Leigh touches my cheek. I open my eyes. Hers are full of concern. “Are you okay?”
Sweat glues my shirt to my skin, but I’m not hot. I’m freezing.
“It’s this place,” I say. “It’s as if the very air is stealing my joy.”
“I know. I am a Lunar?—”
“Shh.” Leigh frowns at how I cut her off. But I hear voices. “We aren’t alone.”
“Kosac?”
I race across the room to close the door. We don’t want him to catch us snooping.
I flip the lock and put my finger to my lips, silently warning Leigh to stay quiet. She nods and presses her ear against the door. I have the urge to pull her back, needing as much space as possible between her and Kosac.
“I don’t hear anything. Do you?—”
I draw Leigh closer. He can’t take her if I don’t let her go.
“Quiet,” I whisper.
She nods, pupils expanded with fear.
We are now just centimeters apart. Her parted lips just inches from mine.
I’m scared, she tells me through our strange telepathy.
I know. I am scared, too.
“I don’t see anyone down here. Are you sure they came this way?” Comes Kosac’s chasm-like drawl.
“I’m sure,” replies a second voice. It sounds familiar.
“Keep moving,” Kosac demands. “This way.”
Their footsteps recede, likely heading deeper into the cells. Leigh reaches for the latch. I grab her hand. “Don’t.”
“We are wasting time down here.”
I shake my head. “They’ll be back. We have to be patient.”
Leigh groans. “I don’t like being confined to dark, enclosed spaces.” She peers up at me, her eyes steady with her lips slightly parted. Then she slowly and deliberately runs her tongue over her lips. My pulse quickens. She laughs.
“Stay quiet,” I murmur. “Not a sound.”
Leigh nods, but she’s already restless in my grip—a voltage racing through my fingers.
“Leigh,” I warn.
