That was why he’d messaged her again, unprepared to continue playing the long game when she was putting herself so flagrantly in danger.And when she hadn’t taken notice of his warnings, he’d had no choice but to act.Three little men were coming to try their luck, and in a world where women were often abused and ill-treated, Kronos wasn’t prepared to let them hurt what might ultimately belong to him.
Moving in the ether, he edged toward the unfolding scene, surveying the sorry sight transpiring on the deserted street.The three wannabe assailants, who, based on their language and behavior, considered themselves to be so foreboding, had crowded around Kristina, one of them pinning her against the wall.
“That’s right.”The one on her left was laughing, an empty noise that spoke of the place Kronos would send him if the fool did anything to harm her.“We can get you out of the cold and make sure you warm up nicely, darling.”
“No, thank you.”Kristina’s eyes darted between them, her voice higher than before, revealing the fear coursing through her body.
The squeaky response wasn’t her fault, of course.Fear among mortals was merely the physiological response to a perceived threat, and at that moment, Kristina had three definitive menaces to contend with.
She had no idea how close Kronos was, how he’d been enjoying observing her until she’d acted so recklessly, or what he was going to do with her once he had dealt with the pesky males.
Soon enough, though, she would know it all.
“Yeah, well, we ain’t fucking asking,” the same brute snarled at her, apparently thinking himself intimidating.
Kronos sighed at the feigned attempt at masculinity, though the performance was working on the mortal who’d caught his attention.Kristina’s heart rate had elevated sharply, her eyes widening as she acknowledged what Kronos had tried to convey—she was in tangible danger.
She had no way of knowing he’d never let anything happen to her.She didn’t realize that her dark guardian was already there, present, and poised, just waiting to make his move.
Pressing closer through the atmosphere, he landed on the road behind the men, his feet touching down with no sound.
“Don’t worry, darling,” the inane male pinning her against the cold wall sneered.“We can’t promise to be gentle, but we might drop you off back here once we’re done with you.”
“No!”She was definitely afraid that time, her diminutive figure attempting to push her bully away.Her cry provoked a primal response in the god lurking in the shadows of the street.No one was allowed to elicit that reaction from her, except him.She didn’t belong to some miserable street thug.“Don’t, please!”
Kronos rounded on the male pressing her against the building.Though still, the imbecile failed to listen to his body’s senses.If he’d been paying attention, he’d have realized the peril coming up behind him, but of course, he didn’t.
They never paid attention.They never learned.
Not until it was too late.
“Shut it, bitch.”One of them shoved his palm over Kristina’s mouth in an apparent show of force, and even though his act of propriety riled Kronos, he took a moment to watch her response.
Shock flashed in her blue eyes before her self-preservation instincts kicked in.Her nails clawed at his hand, producing irritated squeals from the idiot until his little friend swiped her fingers away, pushing them down her body and holding them out of the way.
“Looks like we’ve got a fighter!”His tone was mocking, and Kristina’s eyes squeezed closed at the sound, her lungs pulling in a slower breath.
What is she thinking?
He knew she was terrified, but something had given her the presence of mind to close her eyes and try to calm her nervous system.
The little human apparently had more sense than he’d given her credit for.More than she’d demonstrated when she’d gone wandering off into the evening.
There was hope for her.She wasn’t only a fascination he could break down before he rebuilt her, but something else, something greater—the possibility of someone who could enthrall him even more than Shelley.
His lips twisted at that.Kristina was down, but not out, and he saw the fire gleaming in those blue orbs when her eyes flew back open.
“Reckon she likes it rough.”The moron unzipped his clothing as though he had any chance of actually assaulting Kristina.“Let’s see, shall we?”
The woman whose insolent approach had first attracted Kronos’ attention cried out from behind the guy’s hand, her eyes wild as she searched the area for someone who might come to her aid.
There were no people to be found, but little did she know that help was only seconds away.
“Ain’t no one coming to save you, princess.”The one holding her wrists laughed harder.“No one gives a shit.”
“Wrong.”Kronos had witnessed enough.
He’d known the three men in her vicinity had malicious intent on their minds and had suspected that if she didn’t listen to his advice, she would fall foul of the peril they posed, but she hadn’t listened.That failure to obey would be a matter he’d return to once she was safely ensconced in his care, but the present moment required action.
