Page 26 of Silent Lucidity

I’m finally free of him.

She hurriedly dressed. Even though she wasn’t entirely certain of her current circumstances, she knew they were better than they’d been before.

At least now she had a chance of getting home.

Tenthil pausedas he opened one of the cabinet doors inside the equipment room and turned to look back into the living space.

Abella stood with her back toward him. His eyes roamed up her long, lithe legs, lingered on her rounded backside, and followed the graceful curve of her spine up to the blue tips of her long hair. She bent forward to pull on her pants, granting him a fleeting glimpse of her sex.

His body responded instantly, balls tightening and cock stiffening. He gritted his teeth and curled his hands into fists. The prick of his claws breaking his skin didn’t distract Tenthil from the sight before him. He wanted nothing more than to walk up behind her, take her hips between his hands, bury his shaft in her heat, and rut her until he’d spent every bit of strength in his body.

But he knew even that wouldn’t be enough. His hunger for her was fathomless.

Straightening, Abella tugged the pants up over her hips. Tenthil turned his head away quickly. He released a shaky breath and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.

I am acting like an animal.

This was the second time he’d lost himself in a haze of lust within the last fifteen minutes. Had she not shoved him off the bed when he pressed his lips to her neck earlier, he would have likely succumbed to his desires. That was unacceptable. He might have fumbled through clouded judgment to make it this far, but he needed to think clearly if he intended to keep them safe going forward.

Prioritize.

They needed supplies. Cullion had many connections, and it was possible some of them would seek retribution for his death—if only because he’d been one of the elite. That meant possible involvement from the Eternal Guard and potential action from Starforge. More worrisome than both—and far more dangerous—was the Order. The Master and his assassins posed the true threat.

Tenthil took the top half of a battle suit out of the locker and tugged it on, sealing it down the front. He fastened his belt over it, pulled on a pair of boots, and immediately set about supplying himself from the bountiful equipment room stock. He stuffed power cells, a spare blaster, blades—both physical and energy-based—a few situational tools, spare clothing, a pair of thin-but-tough cloaks, food, and medical supplies into a durable backpack, grateful that most of it was extremely compact.

As he was emptying a small lockbox of unattached credit chips—credits that weren’t bound to any accounts or identities which could not be traced—a familiar voice spoke in the room, turning Tenthil’s blood to ice.

“In a hurry?” the Master asked.

Tenthil turned slowly, his hand instinctively dropping to his blaster.

The Master stood in the center of the equipment room, life-sized but oddly faded—a holographic projection.

“Show yourself, Tenthil.”

Tenthil clenched his jaw, maintaining his amped-up bioelectrical field to keep himself from showing up on the surveillance feeds.

“I know you’re there.” The Master tilted his head. “Just as I know the terran female is there.Abella.”

Hearing her name spoken by that voice, the voice he hated more than any other, poured fire into Tenthil’s veins. His sudden realization that the Master had likely seen her naked only fanned the flames.

As though summoned, Abella peered around the edge of the door, long hair dangling below her tilted head. Her eyes widened.

The Master turned toward her. “Curious creatures, these terrans—orhumans, as they sometimes prefer. Still rare enough to be valuable.”

She gasped and ducked out of the doorway.

The Master’s low, dark chuckle made Tenthil’s skin crawl. He released his bioelectric field as the Master faced him again.

“There was no contract on Traxes Cullion Orgathe,” the Master said. “You killed him and ten members of his security team without any order to do so. And you stole his property.”

Tenthil stared into the darkness beneath the Master’s hood as the black-robed being stepped closer and raised a long-fingered hand. The holographic digits brushed through Tenthil’s shoulder. He barely suppressed a shudder.

“The Eternal Guard has begun a formal inquiry into Cullion’s death,” said the Master, lowering his hand, “and Starforge Security is likely to launch their own investigation. That is not to mention the backlash amongst the numerous business partners Cullion maintained, many of whom wield great influence. Though none are a threat to my Order, even you will understand that this situation will be a blight on our reputation should they discover the truth.”

The Master walked through Tenthil, who turned around to follow the projection’s movement. Tenthil’s skin prickled, his fear mingling with fresh rage.

“I am disappointed, Tenthil. All that potential wasted. All that talent and skill, all the time and money invested, all for nothing. The exceptional physical attributes of your species cannot make up for your inherently feral nature. You have left me no choice.”

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