Page 5 of A Darkside Interlude

A cynical snort escaped him as he studied the people streaming past. With the exception of a few aliens—he saw a winged Avein and a tentacled Ordoon, amongst others—they were mostly human, and they came in all shapes, colors, and sizes.

Humans were a fantastically diverse race.

Some of them walked with purpose, cutting through the chaos with admirable efficiency. Some wandered aimlessly, appearing lost. Some stared blankly at the bright lights and lurid holo-screens, their eyes glazed over with the look of intoxication.

And then there was her.

A human female, striding toward them.

Iskar’s heart skipped a beat. He froze, unable to tear his eyes away. Compared to everyone else on the Glory Strip, she stood out like some mythical creature from the otherworld.

He shouldn’t be staring, but he couldn’t help himself.

Honey-gold skin. Long, slender legs. A barely-there skirt that skimmed the tops of her thighs, riding up as she walked. Generous hips. A slender waist and a bare midriff. Pert breasts, hidden beneath a tantalizing garment that messed with his head. Made of shimmering, semi-sheer blue fabric, it artfully concealed her nipples whilst teasing him with a maddening hint of what lay beneath.

Bare, graceful arms were adorned with vine-like bands of silver jewelry that stood out against her desert-burnished skin.

A sharp chin was thrust forward. Red lips pouted. Dark brown eyes speared his soul with delicious intensity.

Perfect.

Her face was a perfect oval, adorned with a rounded nose and high cheekbones. A sleek bob of shockingly blue hair framed her face, abruptly ending at her jawline.

As far as Iskar was aware, human hair came in many shades, but not blue. That meant she’d had hers artificially colored.

Why would anyone do such a thing?

The answer was staring him right in the face.

To stand out.

This alluring creature wanted to be noticed, and he’d unwittingly succumbed to her demands.

Fuck.

“Check yourself, Commander.” Torin’s voice was a distant echo in the background. The First Division warrior sounded mildly surprised… and amused. “You look like you’ve just been hit by an ionospheric lightning bolt.”

Fuck.

Iskar blinked. He tried to tear his attention away from the human, but he couldn’t, especially when she was heading straight for him.

Closer, closer…

This was the part when he was supposed to do something, say something. As a commander, he had a reputation for being ruthless and decisive under pressure. He made swift decisions and stayed the course, never wavering in the face of a threat.

But this…

This was different.

Military matters were one thing, but when it came to females…

Kaiin’s hells. He had only the most limited experience with them, and now one of the infernal creatures was here, walking right up to him as if he were a long-lost lover.

Her dark eyes burned into his soul, and her hands…

They disappeared as she pressed her body up against his.

Her heat seeped into him.

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