Page 31 of The Interdimensional Lord's Earthly Delight
Was thereanyonewho didn’t want to see the God of Beloveds dead?
“Oh, don’t worry,” said Radek. “I got you out once, and I can do it again.” His lips twisted. “Spending Adria’s savings to break you out of the penitentiary only to have you disappear almost brokeme, but now Ihave another chance.”
Tynan peered past the angry intruder. Were they letting just anyone into the brig these days? First Lishelle by herself, now this one? As a warlord, he would have words with the duke about station security…
He snapped his gaze forward again when the younger male fumbled a rather large blaster into his hand. Thatdefinitelywas a security lapse—
Tynan leaped back as theorange plasma spattered across the barrier. He’d morosely wondered about dissolving into his component particles, but he didn’t want to be incinerated by anything besides the caress of the Lady Lishelle who had been his touchstone upon returning to this universe.
“And when I’m done with you,” Radek snarled, “I’ll do to yourladywhat you did to Adria.”
Tynan stiffened. His lady… Radek had seenhim with Lishelle in the tavern. The numbness that had congealed around him while contemplating his many sins melted away in a cold sweat. The enraged male couldnotbe allowed to hurt Lishelle.
But what to do with a wall between them…
Radek let out a cry of frustration as the orange glare sputtered out with the transparent barrier clouded but still intact.
Tynan, though, had some experiencewith impenetrable obstructions—
He strode to the wall and kicked hard.
The wall, embrittled by the seething energies of the blaster, exploded toward Radek, who cringed back with another cry.
For a split second, Tynan hesitated. He didn’t want to hurt the younger male, so hurt by what Blackworm had done to the sister. And was breaking out of his cell the best way to prove hewasn’ta criminal?
Radek pointed the blaster at him again.
Tynan quickly reconsidered. It wasn’t like he was being given a lot of options.
When the blaster whined a low-charge warning, Radek hefted the blaster like a club and ran forward. Tynan sidestepped easily and gave the younger male a helping hand between the shoulder blades, shoving him toward what remained of the wall. Radek skittered on the pelleted slagleft from the blaster and went down to one knee. With more fury than common sense, he popped back up.
Directly into Tynan’s fist.
One blow, carefully placed to the belligerent jaw, snapped Radek’s fair-haired head back.
He went down again. And stayed there.
Tynan shook out his hand with a curse, his knuckles stinging a rebuke.
“Disruption detected,” an overhead voice announced belatedly.“Security dispatched.”
About time. Scowling at the other male, Tynan paced a few steps away. He didn’t remember the younger male or his sister. He didn’t remember who had released Blackworm from the penitentiary. Had Radek paid others? Would they try to go after Lishelle in revenge?
With another oath, he swooped down to grab the exhausted blaster. Instinctively, his thumb switched the dial toambient recharge.
What was he? A warlord? A criminal? A god?
Unwilling to wait for the pathetic security to arrive, Tynan left his assailant slumped on the floor and strode out of the brig.
What was he?
A lover who would save his lady.
***
She couldn’t sleep.
But at least now she had an excuse.