Page 174 of Tamed By Her Touch

But she didn’t have time to check the tablet because Sendar lunged at her.

“Interfering bitch!” he snarled, reaching for her.

Clair barely had time to throw up her hands before Kaelus was suddenly there.

The big Hybrid caught Sendar by the back of his collar and hauled him away from her as though he weighed no more than a child. Sendar kicked and twisted, trying to break free, but Kaelus swung him around and slammed him face-first against the side of the containment chair.

There was a horrible clang and Sendar crumpled to the floor.

For several seconds nobody moved, then Clair cautiously peered around Kaelus’s broad body.

“Is he dead?” she asked.

“No,” Kaelus growled.

“Are you sure?”

Kaelus nudged Sendar with one boot and the unconscious male groaned.

“Unfortunately,” he said, scowling.

Clair let out a shaky breath.

“Good.”

Kaelus looked down at her.

“Good? He deserves death.”

“Yes, but now he gets to explain to the entire Council why his recorder contains a full confession to murder, bioterrorism, medical experimentation, and whatever the alien equivalent is of being the biggest asshole on the planet.”

Despite the pain etched around his mouth, one corner of Kaelus’s lips lifted.

“I do not believe that last offense is technically criminal.”

“It should be,” Clair said.

He nodded.

“On that point, we agree.”

Relief swept through Clair so suddenly her knees nearly gave way. It was over. Sendar was unconscious. The blaster was out of reach. Kaelus was himself again. They had the Archive records and Sendar’s own confession.

They had won! Then she saw the blood.

“Oh my God,” she gasped, putting a hand to her mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

Kaelus looked down. The entire left side of his shirt was soaked through.

“You’re hurt!” Clair exclaimed, pointing.

He frowned.

“That is inconvenient.”

“Inconvenient?” Clair stared at him. “You’ve been shot!”