Samuel's body lost all sensations. As if an intense darkness had swallowed him whole, leaving only his eyes behind.
All he could do was stare at the tall young man—no, a monster. His brown pupils quivered, his lips parting in shock.
Don't, he wanted to scream. Don't kill me. Please…
Killian averted his gaze, and the assistant finally dragged in a breath.
The suffocating coercion vanished instantly, as if he'd been released from an invisible noose.
Fuck!
It had only been a couple of seconds of eye contact, yet his mind had nearly shattered.
"Leave. I'll stay."
The words rang like a command inside his ears, rattling his spine.
Primal fear crushed his urge to stay into meek obedience.
His body moved on its own, bowing in submission before his mind could catch up.
Only when he stood outside the closed door did his thoughts begin to move again.
His legs finally gave out, and he slid down onto the cold floor, gasping for another breath—one that had never felt so precious.
