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“Yes!” The Toad shifts to the Common Tongue. “Late! Go now!”

I glance over at the Toad’s snarling face. He clearly doesn’t like seeing the Aurelian so near to me. He’s the worst kind of possessive man – angered by his own weakness, too craven to claim what he so desires.

Marcel turns to the leader of the Toads – who is no longer quite so intimidating without his electro-rod.

“Which of these two ripped her clothes off?”

He speaks about me like I’m not in the room – his face hardening in anger.

The leader of the Toads points slowly – aiming a glistening, accusing finger towards the Toad who’d dared to speak just moments earlier.

One of the other Aurelians – the one with the full, sensuous lips – glances over at me. He wets those inviting lips slowly, drinking in the sight of my exposed body.

As that Aurelian caresses me with his eyes, Marcel lets his own fingers fall from my chin. I instinctively look down – not wanting to meet his gaze any more, terrified that those eyes would render me frozen to the spot again, trapped and hypnotized.

Wherever I look, though, Marcel is standing so close that my vision is filled with the sheer presence of him. He’s one beast of a man – and his light-armor makes him appear even bigger. I know those thin panels of carbo-weave could stop a knife blade, but there’s more to the design than merely practicality. It’s as if the armor itself was designed to emphasize the boulder-like size of the Aurelian’s massive shoulders; making them appear even more massive than they already are.

The Toad who’d told the Aurelians to hurry up clearly regrets those words now. He cowers from Marcel’s accusing gaze. For the first time since I awoke on this terrifying vessel, I feel a surge of happiness. That foul creature was so confident when he was groping me. He was so full of himself – acting so powerful when he ripped my shirt from my breasts. I hate him deeply for that.

But now – now he’s cowering, craven and pathetic. I know his kind. They get off on exerting their control over those who are weaker – but fold like cards when the tables are turned.

But I can’t let his disgusting appearance fool me. These gorgeous Aurelians are no different – only they have the cool indifference and effortless strength to dominate almost any situation. They’re born warriors – crafted by the Gods themselves for fucking, and fighting.

The leader of the Aurelian triad glances back at me, and the cowering Toad gurgles in relief as Marcel’s accusing eyes finally spares him.

Now, that slate-grey gaze is burning into my skin.

“I suppose I should be a gentleman and protect your honor,” Marcel offers with a cold grin.

His hand twitches.

It happens so quickly I can’t process it.

One moment Marcel is standing there, relaxed and grinning. The next his Orb-Blade is suddenly out and activated.

I don’t even have time to blink – it all happens so quickly. The head of the Toad suddenly spins in the air – separated by a swing of that blue-black Orb-Blade that occurred so quickly, my eyes didn’t even register it.

Hot blood splashes across the water at our feet. Acidic blood spurts from the neck-stump of the now-headless corpse. Everyone but those three Aurelians takes a horrified step back.

As the headless Toad slumps into the water, Marcel turns his eyes back toward me. He smirks.

My mind reels.

Marcel actually has the audacity tosmirkat me, right after he’d calmly murdered a Toad in front of everybody.

I can’t bring myself to feel sorry for that vile creature. I know he’d have raped me given half a chance. However, I’m terrified and daunted at the speed with which Marcel dispatched him – and perhaps a little in awe.

I shouldn’t be. I’m ashamed of myself.

This man isn’t a savior. He’s a killer.

For a moment, there’s nothing but a cold, empty silence. Nothing but the buzz of the flies is audible. Every one of us holds our breath.

As we stand there, frozen in terror, Marcel coolly watches my reaction.

I gulp, and it’s only when his eyes finally leave mine that I’m snapped out of the trance that gaze left me in. Only when Marcel turns away can I move again.

After that display, the Aurelians suddenly seem eager to leave. As if killing a Toad is nothing to him, Marcel steps back from in front of me, and calmly turns his broad back to the rest of the captive women.