Chapter 2 The knight in black coat

Selene's POV

I didn't scream again. I ran - or tried to.

Before I could move a hand grabbed me and without thinking, My fingers closed around the shattered lamp on the console table beside me, jagged glass digging into my palm as I swung it hard-one of the men ducked, but the second wasn't fast enough. The base cracked against his jaw with a sickening crunch, and he dropped like a sack of bricks.

I had no idea what I was doing - but call it panic or anger - or hell a combination of both.

"Grab her!" one of them barked.

I kicked, twisted, bit-anything to stop them.

But I was no match for them.

A third man grabbed my wrist, yanking me off my feet. The air left my lungs in a gasp as I hit the floor, my knees slamming into the cold tile.

Then he slapped me - so hard that my ears rang and my eyes burnt from the sharp pain across my cheek.

"Stay down," the man snarled, gripping my hair.

I tasted blood in my mouth. My vision blurred. But I still thrashed, trying to get away from his strong hold.

"You're not taking me," I spat.

"Oh, we are," he hissed. "do you have any idea how much was paid for you, you bitch!?"

I am not a property! I' wanted to scream but I knew that these men wouldn't care the less.

The one I'd knocked out groaned behind me, starting to stir.

I didn't stop struggling-not even as they started dragging me toward the door, My heels scraping gainst the floor. Not when one shoe slipped off from my leg because of my struggles. Not when my head was spinning and I felt like the walls of the hallways were closing in on me.

Then-

Gunshots filled the air. Loud and before I could react or turn to see what was happening,The man holding me crumpled to the ground, dragging me with him.

I hit the floor hard, my breath knocked clean out of me. My ears buzzed.

Through the ringing, I heard the sound of boots- marching over to us.

I looked up and saw a man stepping out of the smoke and shadows, black coat billowing like the night itself had split open. Tall. Sharp-jawed. Ice-eyed. A gun still smoking in his gloved hand.

He didn't even blink.

The second intruder turned to run, but he didn't get far. A second shot rang out, and he fell.

Then he turned to me.

I tried to scramble back, but my body refused. My limbs trembled, barely listening.

He walked toward me slowly, like he had all the time in the world. Calm. Composed. Terrifyingly silent.

And then he spoke.

"Selene Laurent."

My name in his mouth made my heart skip in a very unpleasant way.

He knelt in front of me and reached out. I flinched, expecting more violence. Instead, his hand cupped the back of my head gently, steadying me.

"Are you hurt?" he asked.

My throat closed up. My voice was barely a whisper. "Who are you?"

He studied me for a second. His face didn't soften, but his grip did.

"I'm the man who just saved your life. I'd say a thank you was in order."

Saved my life...

How? Why?

I looked around and shuddered at the bodies on the floor - he had killed them. Murdered the men who came to take me.

I have no idea who this man was but wherever he came from he just rescued me.

The gods must have heard my prayers and sent down a Guardian angel to save me.

I could feel myself shaking - but I lifted my head to look at him and tried to smile.

"If you weren't an angel," I whispered voice croaked, "I would have kissed you right now."

He chuckled and said something but I didn't hear.

"You killed them."

"They were here to take you." His gaze dropped briefly to the bruises forming along my wrist. "I couldn't allow that."

"You... how do you know my name?"

He tilted his head slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching-almost a smile.

"I've known your name for a long time, Selene."

I stared at him. There was something terrifying about how quiet he was, how sure of himself.

He helped me to my feet like I weighed nothing. My legs buckled once, and his arm caught me around the waist.

"Steady," he murmured.

My pulse thundered in my ears.

"You can't just show up here and-"

"And what?" he asked softly. "Save you? Keep you from being sold to the highest bidder by your own husband?"

Before I could respond, sirens echoed in the distance.

He glanced toward the broken window, then back at me. "We need to leave. The police won't be able to protect you from the people Damien crossed."

He reached into his coat and pulled out a sleek black phone, tapping a message quickly.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," I whispered, though my body leaned into his warmth like a traitor.

He met my gaze, eyes so pale they looked like smoke. "You don't have a choice."

"You sound just like him."

"Thats not a compliment."

"Why did you rescue me? Who are you?

His hand lifted to my cheek. Just a brush of his fingers against my bruised skin-but it made my chest tighten.

He didn't answer right away. Just looked at me like he was peeling away every lie I'd ever wrapped myself in.

"Because you are mine, Selene."

The world spun and my knees gave out completely.

His arms wrapped around me just before I hit the floor, holding me like I was something fragile.

The sirens screamed louder, closer.

And then everything faded to black.