Page 4 of Ruin

He was death personified. A whirlwind of savagery and violence.

Please, please, please…

Barely breathing, not daring to blink, she watched, waiting, hoping he wouldn’t turn around and leave Vargot alive.

Another step forward, a flick of the wrist almost too quick to see, and then Vargot’s bulbous eyes widened in shock and terror as the Lurian slit him open from throat to gut.

He collapsed in a boneless heap at Lira's feet, twitching grotesquely, tentacles writhing in agony.

She peered down at her owner, holding his gaze until the life drained out of him.

As the last of the death throes subsided, a shuddering breath slid past her lips and a tingling wave of euphoria filled her.

“I’m free,” she mouthed silently.

Feeling his scrutiny, Lira tilted her head back. The Lurian was tense, that massive body poised. He expected her to run. She could see it in those bright yellow eyes.

Instead, she stared back, unflinching. She felt no fear, only an inexplicable sense of rightness when she looked at him.

No, she had no intention of running from her savior.

That same softness she’d seen in his gaze in the bar flickered to life, slowly replacing the cold fury until only warmth remained.

Warmth… and wariness.

Lira reflexively suppressed the giggle that wanted to rise. Was she the scary one now?

He took a tentative step forward, wiping his blades on his pants before sheathing them, then holding out open hands to her.

“Easy, little one,” he rumbled.

Mmm, his voice was even better than she’d imagined. A raspy growl underscored with a thrumming vibration, indicative of vocal cords much different from hers.

“I won’t hurt you.”

That deep voice washed over her like a caress, igniting sparks she hadn't felt in… ever?

Barely above a whisper, she murmured, “Okay.”

Slowly, he closed the distance between them, movements fluid and predatory. Those hypnotic amber eyes seemed to drink her in, as if committing every detail to memory.

Lira craned her head back farther and farther to maintain their stare as he neared. He came to a stop a scant couple of inches between them, and the heat from his massive body enveloped her like a blanket.

Towering over her by at least a foot and a half, he made her feel like a dwarf peering up at a giant.

With careful, attentive motions, he aimed a strange device at the high-tech collar encircling her throat. Seconds ticked by in silence before the collar opened with a soft hiss and fell to the ground with a jarring, metallic clank.

Raising a shaky hand, she touched the bruised, scarred skin of her neck, a tremulous smile breaking free and a hard knot of emotion clogging her throat.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

At her words, he winced almost imperceptibly. Hesitantly, he cupped her face in one massive hand, thumb brushing lightly over her cheekbone.

The simple touch made her breath hitch. She leaned into his palm, savoring the contact after being starved of kindness for so very long.

“You’re safe now.”

Safe.

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