Page 30 of Silent Lucidity

“That’s it?” Abella stepped closer, frowning. “You’re just slapping a band-aid on it and calling it good?”

The bandage glowed faintly for a moment, and when the light faded, the bandage seemed to meld into his skin. The wound vanished. There was advanced tech on Earth, especially for medicine, but the level of technology on display in this city was on a whole new level. She would’ve slowed down to appreciate how amazing it was if the delay wasn’t likely to get her killed.

Tenthil turned to look at her, his face back to its neutral, unreadable expression. “We need to go.”

Abella’s gaze fell to the scars on his cheeks. If tech here was capable of healing wounds as quickly and completely as she’d just witnessed, why did Tenthil have such prominent scars? Cullion had left his share of marks on her over the years, but he’d always erased them eventually, else her back would’ve been comprised of ninety percent scar tissue.

“Who were those people?” she asked. “Who was that man in the room? Why are they after you?”

Tenthil look back in the direction they’d come from before taking her hand and tugging her closer. “Later.”

Abella yanked her arm back. “No. If they’re trying to killyou, what’ll stop them from killing me, too?”

“Me,” he growled, maintaining his hold on her hand. He leaned closer. “They will do you no harm.”

“You can’t know that.”

“Five.”

“What?”

“We killed five,” he replied. “Will kill them all if needed.”

The promise in his harsh tone sent a chill through her. “Who are they, Tenthil?”

“Need to go, Abella.”

“Then go without me.” She tugged on her hand again. “I’m just slowing you down anyway.”

He bared his teeth, revealing sharp fangs—his canines came in pairs, enhancing the menace of the expression—and his brows fell low. “You are coming.Now.”

He pulled on her arm again, and though she knew she couldn’t overcome his strength—he could easily toss her over his shoulder again—Abella fought him.

“Let me go!” She bent at the waist, leaning her backside away from him to use her weight as an anchor.

Without displaying any signs of strain or difficulty, he tugged her closer.

Abella dropped her hand to her hip and drew the gun holstered there, pressing its barrel against his abdomen. Her hand trembled as she adjusted her grip on the weapon. “I said let me go, Tenthil.”

His body stilled, and his eyes dipped to glance at the gun before meeting hers. His expression betrayed nothing of his thoughts or feelings. The only thing Abella could be sure of was his utter lack of fear.

She’d never been a violent person, had never even been in a fight. Her involvement in the battle at the safehouse had been encouraged by adrenaline and panic. Butthis, threatening Tenthil with a gun, made her feel almost as sick as watching him mutilate himself.

Yet what choice did she have? She wanted to go home, and whether he promised to keep her safe or not, he was currently holding her against her will.

“I was just freed from one captor. I’m not going to let myself be taken by someone else,” she said. “Just let me go.”

He held her gaze for what felt like an eternity. Her heartbeat grew louder with every passing moment.

“No,” he finally said, instilling that short, simple word with crushing finality.

“Don’t make me shoot you.”

“Later.”

“What? I…I have a gun pressed against your stomach. Do you not understand that, or—”

“Abella, we need to gonow. They are near, and if they find us, they will kill you, too.”

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