Page 3 of Decadence

Her vision went black.

“S-stop or I kill h-human,” the Ephrenian said in heavily accented Universal.

“No,” the dark shadow said, in the coldest tone Sienna had ever heard in her life.

Suddenly, the Ephrenian’s grip on her neck loosened, and something warm and foul smelling splattered across her cheek. The shock collar went dead. The Ephrenian slumped to the floor. She stared across in horror and saw a single black blade protruding from its neck.

Blood gushed everywhere, rancid and viscous and green. On her hands and knees, she scrambled away, slipping and sliding across the metal floor.

And then a pair of obsidian arms surrounded her. The dark shadow was lifting her up, encircling her with pure muscular power encased in a suit of hard-yet-pliable black armor.

She couldn’t see his face. It was hidden behind a menacing black helm.

He—it—was impossibly strong. There was no way she could win against this lethal creature.

He’d killed the Ephrenian so easily. It was almost laughable.

Panic set in.

He’s going to kill me!

Fear granted her unnatural strength. She fought back, arms and legs flailing as she tried to break his grip.

But his arms were like solid steel.

She screamed.

She kicked harder.

The pain from her injuries became so bad she nearly blacked out.

“Stop,” the Shadow said in perfect Universal. “I’m not going to hurt you. Stop.”

There was something different about the way he spoke. There was no threat in his voice; no cruelty.

Something about his tone almost made her feel… safe.

So she stopped and stared up into darkness.

Who are you?

One of his arms was circled around her waist, supporting her weight with such ease she could have weighed as little as a feather. Against her bare skin, she felt the hard contours of his body.

Is he human?

He almost felt that way… but he couldn’t be. No human she knew was this strong or silent or lethal.

Suddenly, all the fear started to drain away from her body. It was like she’d used up all her adrenaline and now she was completely spent. Her breathing slowed. She grew lightheaded. Her vision started to blur.

And to her astonishment, the Shadow reached out and gently caressed the side of her face with the tips of his armored fingers.

Amidst all the smoke and blood, with the stench of death hanging in the air, this was actually happening.

Like some fantastical, surreal dream.

“You are safe now,” he murmured, and his deep, rumbling voice shocked her with its gentleness.

“Safe…” she whispered, her eyelids drooping as the fear ebbed away.

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