Page 28 of Sublime Target

How had she not noticed it before?

What else was he packing in that getup of his?

Time seemed to slow as a dozen questions raced through her mind. She stared at the projectile, which was slowing. It looked like an orb of some sort: gleaming, plastic, about the size of a large balloon.

“Jerik,” she said apprehensively. “Please don’t shoot that thing.”

What if it was a bomb?

It kept drifting up into the sky, tracing a lazy arc toward them. As it slowed, Clarissa could see that it was filled with something.

Whatever was inside was a shade of red.

Pop!

And then it burst.

It rained red.

What?

Confused and shaken, Clarissa instinctively ran, making for a pergola in the center of the rooftop. Thankfully, the automated louvers of its canopy were closed. “Jerik, take cover,” she cried.

But she already knew they wouldn’t make it in time.

Something warm and powerful wrapped around her waist. Him?

She couldn’t believe it. How did he move so fast?

“What are you—”

Words disappeared as he lowered her to the floor, dropping her but gently cradling her at the same time.

He covered her with his body, shielding her as the contents of the sphere rained down all around them.

Splat. Splat. Splat.

He was on top of her, his hard, armored body pressing against hers, and it occurred to her that he should have been incredibly heavy, but for some reason, he wasn’t.

He’d controlled their fall, and now he was almost hovering, barely touching her as he shielded her from whatever the hell was falling from the sky.

He was warm, though; big and strong and ridiculously fast, and there was something about being in such close proximity to him that made her a little giddy.

What just… happened?

She’d just been protected by Jerik Garul, a Kordolian of considerable power and reputation.

He waited until the mysterious substance stopped falling from the sky. Then he got up, pulling her to her feet.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked, his deep voice filled with concern.

A pleasant little tremor danced through her. How could he be like that? So earnest and serious… like he was really worried for her?

“I’m not hurt. Actually, I’m fine.” Clarissa looked around. The entire rooftop was covered in pink blobs.

Hot pink.

The stuff looked like slime mixed with paint. She ran her hand over her hair. It came away coated in pink stuff. She held it up to her nose and sniffed. It didn’t smell overly chemical. The smell reminded her of the harmless paints she’d used in school.

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