Chapter 63

“Don’t touch me,” Kaeva warned, but it came out a threadbare plea. He choked on a horrified sob for air and space.

“I am touching you.”

“Don’t touch—”

“Kaeva!” Eddie yelled in his face. It broke through the gray haze of anxiety. The cage didn’t do anything to dampen Kaeva’s Estrangement insideit; the cage only kept Kaeva’s energy from leaking outside. Eddie should be dead by now. Should be, but wasn’t. Kaeva stopped struggling, and Eddie gave Kaeva a shake. He planted both hands behind Kaeva’s head, linked his fingers, and tried to pull Kaeva closer, though Kaeva fought to pull away. “I’m fine,” Eddie said right in Kaeva’s face. “I’ve been fine. I’ve been touching you all along.”

“What?” Kaeva gasped. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think.