"I should have been with you. In the vault. I shouldn't have let you go alone."
"You didn't let me do anything. I went. You followed orders. That's how it works."
"To hell with orders." His voice was fierce, sudden, raw. "To hell with protocol and politics and all the things that keep me at a distance. You're my priority. You've always been my priority. Not the territory. Not the alliance. You."
My breath caught.
Behind me, I heard Ford shift. Heard Malphas go very still. Felt the weight of their attention, heavy and complicated and absolutely impossible to deal with right now.
"Alex—"
"I know." He released my hand, his fingers trailing against mine like he didn't want to let go. "I know it's not the time. I know there are dragons and conspiracies and a dozen other things that matter more than whatever this is. But I needed you to know. In case—"
"In case what?"
"In case one of us doesn't make it."
