His black hair fell messily around his face, softening the sharp severity of his features just enough to make him look almost approachable. Almost.
Because there was nothing truly approachable about this man—this Monster.
Sten.
Not with those four horns curving from his head like a dark celestial crown.
Not with those glowing cobalt eyes that looked capable of swallowing entire galaxies whole.
Not with the sheer overwhelming presence that rolled off him in waves.
He muted himself.
I knew he did.
Somehow.
Like he deliberately wrapped chains around his power to keep the world from seeing exactly what he was capable of.
And maybe that should have frightened me.
Instead, it fascinated me.
Drew me closer.
“Luna?” he said softly when I swayed.
The nickname wrapped around my body like velvet and heat.
Then the burning started.
Sharp.
Sudden.
My chest seized hard enough to steal the breath from my lungs.
“Ah—”
Pain exploded beneath my ribs.
No.
Not pain exactly.
Something stranger.
Hotter.
Like lightning had suddenly struck directly through my sternum.
Black dots burst behind my vision as I clutched my chest with one hand, gasping while heat spread downward through my body in violent waves.
What the fuck was this?
Tears blurred my eyesight instantly.
I could hear Sten moving toward me.
