Page 94 of Decadence

Ikriss closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath.

When he opened them again, he looked everywhere but at her. It was almost as if he were intentionally trying to avoid her gaze.

Why? Don’t you want me to see you right now?

He locked eyes with Zharek…

And became a glistening silver blur as he rushed toward the medic, seizing him by the throat.

Choking him.

Eyes bulging, Zharek coughed and spluttered. Ikriss’s claws dug into his neck, drawing tendrils of black blood.

Seriously fearing Ikriss could actually kill the medic, Sienna started to move forward, but she stopped when the General’s big hand clamped down on her shoulder. “Hold. Give him time. He isn’t himself right now, but he won’t kill him. Ikriss and Zharek will sort this out between themselves.”

Fine. You seem to know what you’re doing… I hope. This isn’t fair on Zharek, though. Is he your resident medic-slash-punching bag or something?

Reluctantly, Sienna backed down, glaring a little at the big Kordolian. It wasn’t every day that she got the chance to stop a lethal alien from killing the one that had saved his life.

How could they all be so casual about it, as if Mating Fever-induced rages and death threats were just an everyday occurrence?

She almost started to feel a little exasperated.

Aroused, terrified, confused, thrilled… and exasperated.

These guys… they’re crazy.

With just one arm, Ikriss lifted Zharek into the air and actually held him there for a few seconds. How freaking strong was he, really? “What have you done to me?” His voice was deep and hoarse, as if he were speaking for the first time in ages.

The sound sent a shiver down her spine.

“L-let me down, and then we’ll talk,” Zharek wheezed. “I-it’s the Fever that’s making you want to kill me. Cool your rage, Commander.”

“Ikriss,” Sienna pleaded quietly, her voice coming out as barely a whisper. “Don’t kill him.”

He must have heard her, because he slowly lowered the medic to his feet and released his lethal grip. “Speak.”

Zharek wiped the trickle of blood on his neck, turning it into a dark smear. “I’ve made you perfect again,” the medic said, sounding eerily calm. “You’re probably the first being in the Universe to be brought back from a Silent One’s kiss of death. I had to manipulate your biology far beyond what even we know to get there, but you are still here, aren’t you? You should be thankful, Commander, and so should your mate.”

Ikriss’s fingers twitched. His claws flashed in the darkness. He closed his eyes and went very still.

The air grew taut with tension.

She actually saw the conflict play out across Ikriss’s face; across his body. The corners of his eyes tightened. He was trembling. It felt like he was just a heartbeat away from losing control. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what his hyper-charged Mating Fever would be like, but if what she felt was just a fraction of what he was going through, then he must be in total hell right about now.

Sweet, crazy man. I wish there was something I could do for you.

Instinct took over. “Don’t flip out just yet. I’m waiting for you,” she whispered under her breath in English, pretty sure he could hear her perfectly well.

Her words hit Ikriss like a ton of bricks.

He stopped.

Took a deep breath…

And still didn’t dare look at her.

“You did more than that,” he growled at last, his gaze still fixed on Zharek, his voice low and dangerous. He glanced over his shoulder, locking eyes with the General. “And your interference was subtle this time.”

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