Page 2 of Devil’s Night (Vinduthi Captured Mates #7)
SARGON
I carefully gathered the unconscious human female into my arms, her surprisingly solid weight contrasting with her delicate features. Laying her down on the dusty mattress, I studied her with a mixture of wariness and reluctant fascination.
Her pale skin almost glowed in the dim light, freckles dotting her nose and cheeks. Dark lashes fanned over high cheekbones as she breathed steadily. Though she appeared vulnerable, there was a determination etched into her expression, even in slumber. An intriguing strength lurked beneath that fragile exterior.
A sweet, floral scent wafted from her, carrying hints of something warm and musky that stirred an unexpected, primal response within me. I tensed, recoiling slightly from the unfamiliar sensation. It had been too long since I’d felt anything like this.
No. I’d never felt anything like this. Something about the little human called to me.
Shaking my head, I refocused on assessing potential threats. My gaze fell on the strange rectangular device she’d been holding - some type of unfamiliar communication pad, now dark and unhelpful. Frustrated, I tucked it away, promising myself I’d examine it further later. Flipping through her bag only revealed her identity card.
Nicole Carter.
For now, I needed to determine if this human was simply caught in the time trap’s machinations, or if she posed a danger. I watched the gentle rise and fall of her chest, full lips parted slightly with each breath. She looked so innocent. And that very innocence put her at grave risk here.
With a weary sigh, I resigned myself to keeping her close, protecting her from the rapidly deteriorating hazards of this place until I found an escape. The notion of a human requiring my protection would have been absurd not long ago. But the cruel reality of being trapped, watching time accelerate while I remained frozen, had shifted my perspective irrevocably.
Carefully, I gathered her up again, cradling her unconscious form against my chest as I carried her from the attic to a more secure room. One of her hands brushed my neck, sending an unexpected shock through me that I forcefully ignored.
As I laid her on the bed once more, a faint crackle of energy danced across the peeling walls. The air thickened with an unseen charge. Something fundamental had shifted within this time trap.
Striding to the grimy window, I stared out at the sudden, impenetrable blankness that had erased the world beyond. We were both trapped now.
I would have to move quickly to ensure her survival and my own escape from this rapidly disintegrating nightmare.