Wild heat

made Sienna's skin prickle. Even the usual hum of insects s

recise. She could tell he was on edge not just

f to focus. They had bigger problems than whatever was

oincidence?" she asked,

t look ba

re not just dealing with the jungle

calm, but she caught the sl

me someone had tried to stop them from reaching the Emerald Heart,

further?"

f we're right about the temple's location... a few hours. But we need t

ch twisting. They'd come

That

to avoid predators but close enough to refill their canteens. The fire burned low b

g legs. The adrenaline from earlier had worn off, leaving

ack. Not that he was ever the talk

much," he said sudd

thought you liked it

is focus stayed on the blade in his han

, because I'd say t

s dark gaze locking onto

, but she wasn't buying it. The tension in his jaw, the tigh

yourself sleep,

n't re

the leaves overhead. The fire crackled betwee

knees. "You gonna tell me what's really bothering you, o

readable passing through his expre

apart by a jaguar, and instead of reacting like a no

his eyes. "And what's a 'norma

me frustration? Maybe even acknow

to her surprise, he let out a quiet chuckle

y w

thinking abou

s breat

, but the heat had shifted. It

that he could probably hear it. "

opped just for a second to he

na." His voice was

h, but it was bre

dangerous smile curving hi

ed over, closed her eyes, and ignored the way

he di

scent of him smoke, sweat, and something distinctly Kai. "You keep av

nife, his grip tightening. For a moment, she

aled sharply, s

murmured, standing up. "

d, disappearing into the dar

eath, staring at the emp

row was gon

toni

s already

at the thick jungle canopy, listening to the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring in th

ave n

he always pulled back

a rock with his back to her. Even in the dim light, she could see the tension in

u so afraid

at had been happening from the moment they got thrown into this m

rself up, moving toward him before

bad at sleeping?"

his fingers twitched against his knee

ould know by now that I

quiet exhale almos

him. "You gonna tell me why you're sitting h

still didn't look at he

ia

h to glance at her, the fire's dying glow catching th

ot until you stop prete

on darkened.

ling with something unspoken. "Us. The way you look at me when you think I won't notice. The way

ightened.

there was steel beneath it. "Just tell me. If you don't want thi

le

impossibly still, as if even

ut his breathing had changed slightly heavier,

finally,

t this?" His voice was

e held her ground. "I th

unguarded. And before she could react, he was stand

dea what I wan

against her ribs

t he might pull away again, might walk o

time, h

ime, h

pace between them. The

r hair as he pulled her to him. His lips crashed against hers, the kis

him back, fisting his shirt to keep him close. He tasted like he

to memorize the feel of her. His other hand found her waist, pulling her f

ion, the danger, the people

was on

y t

t

ustling in

he reached for his knife. Sienna's pulse was

hey weren

r someone w

, it wasn't j

ad been alive buzzing with unseen creatures

ind of

aline shoved everything else aside. She reached for her p

es to their left. It could've been

it w

nt of her. His breathing was controlled, but she could s

eren't

dow m

r of

g whistled past them a dart. It embedded itself i

" she

her behind the cover of a fallen log. Another d

ers," Kai muttered, his e

nched. "Which means

sion darkene

vement. She caught the glint of metal rifles.

o six o

e low. "We can't fight them all

The fire. It was lo

rabbing the nearest branch s

s furrowed

h into the brush beside them. Flames licked up the dry l

pted from

hen g

ate. He grabbed

getation as bullets tore through the leaves behind them. Si

slope ste

" Kai

rth as more gunfire echoed above. The ground gave way be

stop in a shallow riverbed. Pain jolted t

, a cut on his temple, but

k overhang. They pressed into the darkness just as their pursuers

gainst her mouth, swall

them,

ent dow

rper. "Spread out.

tightened just for a s

ded, pulse

n't out o

ven c

slow and controlled despite the adrenaline raging through her veins. Beside h

hlights. The beams swept dangerously close, illuminating

g her pistol. One wrong move,

he humid air. "They c

"Boss said to bri

tomach cle

the tension rolling off him. He wasn't just worried abo

hem wasn't just ano

was b

oots crunching over loose stones. One of them

ned around her pisto

roar spli

ust as something massive crashe

exploded

flash of teeth before the gunfire erupted. The men

o

d, yanking her towa

shed behind them. Sienna caught the sound of bodies hitting the

ng around their ankles. The jungle closed i

her into the cover of the thick foliage. His che

, catching her breath. "Tell

pression unreadable. "No.

hrough her damp hair. "Great. Because

need to keep moving. If those guys work for

ho do you think

ed. "Someone wi

e jumped. "Ar

ald Heart," Kai muttered. "And whoever they'r

nown this mission was dangerou

there first," she said

ng dark flickering in his

moving again deeper into the j

't just about findin

rviving long en