light shattered int

ped, sucking in a massive, despera

ing tomb. Her back was pressed

dows, but a thin sliver of Sterling Cit

ry, but she could make out the massive exp

ixed with a faint trace

was watching Corbin swallow a lethal d

She needed to know if this was a ha

ed the warm, solid s

on was ins

d been struck by lightning. His

. His large body lunged over hers, p

clamped down ar

s no recognition in them. Only the pure, violent defens

he air supply to Alan

creamed. She would have clawed at

n't fight. She did

with hot tears. They weren't tears of fear.

acted. The fog of his trauma began to clear, a

his hand wrapped arou

d, instantly replaced by raw panic

e. He threw himself backward, scrambling to the edge of the bed. H

a quiet, raspy sound. A single tear slippe

. He grabbed fistfuls of his own hair, pulling ha

e disgust in her eyes, the flinching withdrawal, t

. She just stared at the violent trem

e nightstand. The date flashed in red

g relief crashed into her ribs

She didn't hesitate. She crawled across

ress dip behind him.

his voice a low, dangerous grow

e wrapped her slender arms around his thick torso from

lently. He froze, c

cheek between his

" she wh

m or hatred. It was a potent, immediate sedat

at her, his eyes wide with disbelief, staring at her as i