Page 96 of Shielded Heart

Samantha’s heart leapt, and her fingers curled against his chest. She couldn’t comprehend her own horror over what he’d just described. It hadn’t been an accident that took Arc’s limbs—it had been torture. It had been revenge.

“Arc…” she breathed, tears welling in her eyes.

“They left me in the alley, in a puddle of stinging rainwater and blood. You never realize just how much blood you have until most of it is spilled on the ground. I don’t know how much time passed—I was in too much pain—but at some point, a pair of strong hands lifted me off the ground, and I looked up, and…”

He paused, pressing his lips into a tight line, and seemed to steady himself. “And there was Drakkal. He’d been out scouting new talent, so he missed the whole thing. He’s beaten himself up over that ever since it happened. He thinks he should have been there to fight alongside me, that he could’ve somehow turned it around. That’s part of why he’s so protective now. He thinks he failed somehow. In his heart, I think he knows the truth. His absence saved my life.

“The energy blade had cauterized the worst of my wounds, but they’d beaten me pretty severely before that. Once Drakkal stopped some of the bleeding, he took me to the same place we’d taken Vaund to get patched up. And they…well, they did what they could, but I’ve indulged myself with some significant upgrades over the years.”

“And then you came here,” Samantha said.

“And then we came here, to build allthis. I used what Zakarae taught me to keep us hidden. The Syndicate thought I was dead, and I wanted to keep it that way. It worked until we went to the Ventrillian Mall and that groalthuun took those pictures, which he passed along to his boss. Vaund.”

Sam closed her eyes as guilt flooded her.She’dasked Arc to take her to the upper city on a tour. Itwasher fault. If she hadn’t given in to temptation and called him, none of this would have happened. He’d still be in hiding. He’d still be safe.

She felt him turn to face her fully, and one of his hands caught her chin, forcing it down.

“Open your eyes, Samantha.”

She sniffled as tears flowed down her cheeks, but she obeyed.

His bright eyes were narrowed. “I know that look on your face. This isnotyour fault. I chose to take you there, and I don’t regret it. I would’ve taken you to a thousand other places afterward, whether you asked to go or not. You are not to feel guilt formychoices.”

It didn’t matter what he thought. Even if she and Arc were destined for one another, Sam carried some of the blame for what was happening now. Shehadto carry some of the blame.

“Does Vaund know where you are?” Samantha asked raggedly as she resumed combing her fingers through his hair.

“No, or he would be trying to kill me right now. We…spoke, earlier. I contacted him through the groalthuun’s holocom. I think he hates me even more now than before.”

Sam frowned. “Is that why you were drinking?”

“I was drinking because…because I thought I’d left all that behind. That I was free of it.” He lifted his arms and gestured to the black metal encasing them. “Haven’t I paid enough of a price? And now…now I stand to loseyoubecause of it, too, and I cannot stand the thought of that. I cannot stand that you are in danger because ofmypast.”

She placed her hand on his cheek, stroking it with her thumb. “You won’t lose me, Arc.”

He took gentle hold of her hand and lifted it from his cheek, flattening her palm against his. He traced her fingers with the digits of his free hand. “I wish I could touch you with my own fingers just once. Just to have the memory of your feel forever.”

“What do you feel when you touch me with them now?”

“Their warmth and their firmness. A hint of their texture. The same things I would feel with flesh, but lesser. But…off.”

“Your hands are not the only things you feel with.” Sam smoothed her other palm down his chest. “What do you feel when I touch you here?”

“You,” he rasped softly.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned down to brush her lips across his. Warmth filled her cheeks as she said, “You don’t need your hands to feel me, Arc.”

He briefly lifted his head to chase her lips. “You are too precious for this world, little terran.”

Samantha smiled; his words sent a gentle, tingling sensation through her chest.

Arc needed something to distract him, something to lighten his mood. He was wallowing in his past, in his pain, in his despair, and Sam refused to let this continue.

She carefully slipped out from beneath him and stood up. “Well, that’s too bad, since I signed an agreement saying I’d stay here at least a year.” She took a couple steps away, nudging aside the empty bottles scattered on the floor, and glanced over her shoulder. “Though…I might stay longer ifsomeonecould convince me…”

His eyes were intent upon her as he sat up; their light had altered subtly, shifting back toward the wicked, ravenous gleam she’d come to appreciate so much. “I don’t care what other agreements you’ve made, little terran. You’re not goinganywhere.”

Samantha faced forward, a shiver running down her spine at his words, and walked toward the stairs leading up to his work platform. “Who’s going to stop me?”

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