QUOTE : You keep saying you instead of we.”<br /><br />Jak’ri closed the incinerator. A whoosh sounded. “I’m not coming with you.”<br /><br />She stared up at him. “What?”<br /><br />“I’m staying here. Keep me apprised of everything telepathically as you go. If you run into any trouble, I’ll start blasting things in here, then run and draw their fire.”<br /><br />“Oh, hell no!” she blurted. “We leave together or we don’t leave at all.”<br /><br />“Ava, you have a much higher chance of escaping if I keep them distracted long enough to—”<br /><br />Closing the distance between them, she rose onto her toes, curled her free hand around the nape of his neck, and pressed a fervent kiss to his lips.<br /><br />Startled into silence, he stared down at her.<br /><br />“I’m not going without you, Jak’ri. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself for me. We either escape together or we die together. Those are your two options. Time is ticking. What’s it going to be?