ing pod, instantly shrouding the platform in a

f pure, slack-jawed terror. Amelie was frozen in place, her lungs re

erged fro

hand of undeniable strength. It gripped the ed

a figure

ling a man's torso, lean and muscled, dotted wi

his

adiating an aura of cold fury that made the air crackle. His eyes, a startlingly d

yde was

a ghost, a real one this time. His legs gave out, and he col

is voice a pathetic squeak. "A

d directly onto Amelie. He took in her torn dress, the terror on her f

s. Anger, yes, but something else too. Somet

ly rebooted, only to

He's

ifying thought struck h

the man who comes to

he scent of whiskey and sandalwood that she now realized was clinging

was

always

ing sensors from his chest and let them fall. As if on cue, a hidden panel in the wall beside the pod slid open,

platform and walked

sound that seemed to come from the very depths of the

s hands and feet like a crab. "No! I...

e down on Cal's

ck echoed throu

high, piercing

said, the words

ted hi

Tell him to leash his dog. The next time,

of the mausoleum as if the devil himself were at his heels. The sound of his t

vy, suffocating silence that was n

st the tw

ared at the man who was her husband, her tormentor, her

and walked

rder against the cold metal of the pod. Her eyes were wide

a long moment, he just looked at

raped it over her shoulders, covering her torn dress, her e

seemed about to speak, but his face paled. His body swayed, as

d, and he collapsed, falling to