Page 43 of Decadence

The Kordolians sure seemed to recognize him.

Bastard.

He could die and go to hell a thousand times over for all she cared.

She would kill him herself if she could.

“Ikriss…” she whispered in shock, trying to make sense of what she’d just witnessed… and what the hell was happening right now.

What just happened?

It had been a sudden explosion of violence.

Ikriss had turned into an impossible blur, wielding dark blades and plasma as he fought an unseen opponent.

She’d seen it with her very own eyes…

His strength.

His viciousness.

He was capable of such astounding brutality. It both frightened her and warmed her fucked up heart.

She didn’t know if the enemy was dead or alive.

She didn’t know if Ikriss would survive.

“Out of the way, humans,” one of the obsidian-armored Kordolians snapped, grabbing Sienna by her shoulder, forcefully yanking her backward…

Then the alien froze.

Everyone froze.

Ikriss’s eyes snapped open.

He snarled in Kordolian, his voice taut with barely contained rage, his gaze searing.

Sienna had no idea what he was saying, but his tone of voice made it clear that this was a warning—and an order.

Holy crap.

She’d never heard him sound so dangerous before.

Impossibly, the dozen or so big, scary Kordolians that had them surrounded gave almost imperceptible nods.

Respectful nods.

Clearly, they were trained to follow Ikriss’s commands without question. It was almost as if they were a little afraid of the guy.

How far up the chain of command was he?

Ikriss took a deep, shuddering breath and turned his head, locking eyes with her.

He was a fucking mess. Dark blood—his own or his attacker’s?—was splattered across his face. It had soaked through his dark blue sweater and trousers, turning them pitch black. His lips were parted in a grimace that was half pain and half pure destruction.

He looked like he wanted to completely annihilate whatever dark corner of the Universe the assailant had escaped from.

But his eyes were clear, and they were fixed only upon her, and for a moment, Sienna couldn’t care less about the destruction or the mess or the black blood staining her hands or the fact that she was only half dressed, her upper body exposed to reveal her bare skin and lacy black bra.

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