Arast slung Kiara away from him. Not waiting for the bastard to shoot her, or to throw down his weapon, which would be a miracle anyway, Nykyrian launched himself from the shadows, straight at his target,
Kiara screamed as the two men entwined. They moved so quickly, all she could see was a blur of color, black and brown moving in a dreadful dance, Nykyrian's life balancing on the outcome. She rubbed her throat in nervous strokes of her fingers, barely feeling the welts left by the assassin's cruel hands.
A flash of light fired. Nykyrian cursed. The assassin came to his feet and angled his blaster at Nykyrian, but before he could fire, Nykyrian caught him about the head and twisted. She recognized the sound of grinding bone a split second before blood gushed out of the soldier's mouth and he crumpled slowly to the ground.
Horrified, she stared at Nykyrian as he stooped over the man's body, feeling for a pulse.
He had killed with his bare hands! Nykyrian came to his feet.
Kiara's heart pounded in fear. For the first time, she fully realized what he was and what he could do. The stench of blood clung to him, choking her.
"Come on," Nykyrian said, holding his hand out to her. "The others will be here shortly."
Her illusions shattered, tears ran down her cheeks in two icy paths.
"Kiara!" Nykyrian snapped, grabbing her arm and pulling her to his ship. "We have to leave."
Somehow, she managed to climb up the ladder and seat herself in the cockpit of his ship.
Her heart hammered in her chest as he joined her.
He had just strapped them in, when his body went rigid.
Kiara looked up to see more soldiers entering the bay. Nykyrian flipped switches in front of her. The engines of their ship fired with a deafening roar.
Transfixed by the large group of assassins, Kiara stared at them. One man stood out at the head of the soldiers, glaring at her and Nykyrian with a handsome, cold face that mirrored cruelty and hatred.
Aksel stared at his two targets, knowing Nykyrian had once more slipped from his grasp as the Arcana flew out of the bay. "Dammit!" he shouted.
It was then, he noticed the body of his brother. His teeth chattered in rage and hatred.
"Find them!" he snarled to his soldiers. "I will have that hybrid's life, or your own!"
Shoving his men from his path, Aksel made his way back to his own ship. This was far from over. He would claim Nykyrian's life no matter what!
Seven
Kiara trembled in shock and fear. Over and over, she saw Nykyrian break the soldier's neck, heard the bone splintering, the blood . . .
They had just landed outside the building where Rachol lived. The scent of warm, sticky blood clung to her. The assassin's blood from where Nykyrian had killed him, she thought, her stom ach twisting. She tried to rise from the seat, but her limbs wouldn't move.
Gently, Nykyrian wrapped his arms around her and carried her into Rachol's flat. Kiara wanted the strength to push him away, to bathe the smell of blood from her body. But just then, it took all her strength to keep her mind from replaying the entire fight, her ears from hearing once more the final macabre snap of bone.
Nykyrian placed her on the couch. Sitting next to her, he rubbed her cold hands. Kiara's mind protested. "Don't touch me!" she shouted, pushing him away. "My God, you killed that man with your bare hands!"
His hands stiffened on hers, then he moved away without a word.
Kiara leaned against the arm of the couch and cried. Granted they had both talked about his profession many times, Nykyrian had even made jokes about it, but the reality of what he could do had never really struck her, until now.
Nykyrian stared at her quaking shoulders, wanting to comfort her, but knowing he couldn't. He thought about Arast and his gut knotted. Guilt consumed him. Since he, Aksel and Arast had left the League, he had done his best to avoid them, knowing what would happen if they ever found each other.
His throat tightened as he listened to her cry. He had known what Kiara's reaction would be to him once she realized what he really was. She hated him. At least now she would be easier to guard. She wouldn't bother making attempts at friendship.
Still, her tears tore through him. He watched her shaking shoulders and his heart thudded a hollow, em pty beat against his ribs. He should have refused the contract.
The door opened. Nykyrian spun about at the sound, his blaster leveling at the figure.
Rachol held up his hands. "Whoa, friend!"
Nykyrian closed his eyes and holstered his blaster. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Rachol shook his head, a knowing smile on his lips. "Whatever you did to Aksel, you got him screaming mad. He's sent his men all over looking for you." He paused as he noticed Kiara. "Is she all right?"
Nykyrian shook his head, his guilt mounting. "I killed Arast in the bay before we left."
Rachol paled. "You what? Are you okay?"
He shrugged, not sure of anything at the moment. "I've got some things to do. Get her to safety."
Kiara heard Nykyrian leave, but she didn't bother looking up. She wasn't sure she liked Rachol anymore at that time than she did Nykyrian. Dear God, between the two of them, how many men had they killed?