Page 38 of Taming Chaos

“What are you going to—”

“Shh. I’m coming back for you. If anyone threatens you from below, wrap your arms and legs tightly around the ladder, brace yourself, and fire. Watch out for the blowback, and don’t fall, whatever you do. This little gun packs quite the kick.” His fingers grazed her cheek in a gentle caress.

Then he grabbed the rung above her head and hauled himself up in a single powerful movement, rapidly climbing toward the light.

He moved with such speed and stealth that Seph realized he had been awfully patient with her as she lumbered up the narrow shaft.

Suddenly, Torin disappeared from sight, leaving her all alone in the dark space.

It was only a matter of time before screams filled the air, dampening the warm, fuzzy feeling that had filled her chest. How could he be so gentle one minute, yet inspire such terror the next?

I am on your side.

Actually, that warm, fuzzy feeling didn’t entirely disappear. It lingered even as she pictured Torin taking down his opponents with vicious ease.

Could she really accept that her savior and protector was a stone-cold killer?

You have to trust him.

Torin was fighting to keep her safe. He would cut down anything in his path to make sure he won, because he wasn’t bound by the ordinary morals and values of the human world.

The laws of Earth didn’t apply here.

She had to accept the situation, or she wouldn’t survive.

Boom! A powerful explosion rocked the shaft, and Seph almost let go of her handhold. The noise was deafening, making her ears ring.

Frantic shouts filtered down to her, accompanied by the sound of Torin’s thunderous commands. He spoke Bartharran, and although she couldn’t understand a word of what he was saying, his anger came through loud and clear.

Boom! The blast of a plasma gun echoed down the shaft.

Another blast. Footsteps. More fighting. Bartharran shouts. Torin grunting softly.

Then silence.

The smell of ash and cinder wafted down to her. Seph was already moving, pulling herself up the ladder as a feeling of dread unfurled in her chest.

Torin hadn’t come back, and something was wrong.

The guy seemed invincible, but who the hell could survive an explosion like that, even if they possessed magical symbiote-armor?

As she neared the top, soft cursing reached her ears.

Torin! Relief flooded through her as she recognized his voice. He spoke in the melodic tones of his native tongue, and even though it was obvious he was swearing, he still managed to make the words sound refined, almost elegant.

But there was tension in his voice. He was in pain.

A flutter of worry entered her chest.

Seph reached down and made sure the plasma gun was secure in her utility belt pouch. Torin had warned her to stay in the shaft, but there was no way she was just going to cower down here while he risked his life trying to save her ass, especially if he was hurt.

Pulling out her gun, she took a deep breath, climbed up the final few rungs, and emerged into a world of blood, fire, and chaos.

Chapter Nine

Torin groaned as he sat up, pressing a hand against the gaping wound in his left side. His hungry nanites were already at work, knitting skin and muscle and tissue together.

His injury was the effect of a close-range spik-grenade explosion. One of the Bartharrans had tried to lob it down the stairwell, where Seph was hiding.

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