River stares vaguely at the bloodied man who stands at the door, his chest rising and falling rapidly, skin sleek with dark colors that trail rivulets down his powerful legs, blooming beneath his bare feet.
Seeing him then, gripping a head that falls with a sickening, wet thump onto the floor, surrounded by myriads of dead carcasses— River realizes that Hadrius had never looked more terrifying.
He is a horrific creature.
And heading straight for her.
The shock of his sudden presence renders her speechless and numb, unable to react as his hand shoots out like a viper and grips her wrist that rests on the table, he yanks her from her seat.
Hadrius does not wait for her recovery. In one fluid motion, his arm circles her waist and he easily hauls her over his shoulder. He does not spare h
