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With every step, the weight of the handcuffs reminded me of our perilous connection.
Every stumble, every misstep — it wasn’t just my life at stake; it was also Talan’s.
Casting a surreptitious glance at him, I saw his jaw set tight, his usually striking eyes shadowed with worry.
Even his stride seemed tenser than usual.
It was clear that the recent encounter with not just one, but two alien males had rattled him more than he let on.
And to be fair, the terror I’d felt was like no other.
My heart raced at the mere memory.
The grotesque sight of their battling forms, the rawness of their otherworldly cries.
And the sensation of being helplessly trapped, with death lurking inches away, waiting to be triggered by a mere step.
“I can’t believe it,” Talan mumbled, breaking the silence. “These damned cuffs. They’re putting you in more danger.”
His voice was laced with frustration.
I looked at him, surprised at the vehemence in his tone.
That’s when it hit me.
All this while, it wasn’t just my fear I was sensing; it was his too.
But not for himself — for me.
The realization was both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
Hoping to offer some solace, I reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm.
The rough texture of his skin was at odds with the softness of his gaze as he looked down at me. “Hey,” I whispered, trying to infuse as much warmth into that single word as I could. “It’s okay.”
His eyes locked onto mine, and I could see the turmoil swirling within. “It’s not okay, Riley,” he snarled. “If one of those things touched you… If their battle turned in the wrong direction…”
I would have been crushed to death again.
I took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in my throat. “The risk isn’t just mine, Talan. It’s yours too. If something happens to me, you’ll be reset with me. If you die, you won’t reset. If anyone should bear the brunt of danger, it should be me.”
His fingers found their way to my chin, tilting my face up to meet his intense gaze. “Riley, listen to me,” he said earnestly, “I would never risk your life, not for anything. Not even in this creator-forsaken place.”
Time seemed to stand still as I got lost in the depths of his eyes.
I felt a magnetic pull, an unspoken bond that had grown stronger with every shared peril.
As his hand moved from my chin to caress my cheek, my knees felt weak.
The world around us faded, and all that remained was the soft touch of his fingers and the intoxicating warmth of his proximity.
* * *
With our moment of connection still fresh, Talan didn’t waste a second.
He turned to our linked handcuffs, eyes narrowing with determination.
With one hand gripping mine securely, he began attacking the chain with the makeshift blade he’d fashioned earlier.
