[Given the young man’s previously demonstrated tenacity, Liem is neither dismayed nor particularly surprised when Makoto succeeds at twisting out of the way of his shot. It’s Hayame’s shot that he’d been banking on regardless, and when he sees her arrow impale his shoulder a split second later, satisfaction surges inside him, singing fiercely through his veins. He can’t deny the thrill that grips him at the sight of the struggling demon crashing onto the cobbles, pinioned and bleeding despite his earlier confidence. He may have once been a ward of Hell, but his blood still smells vital enough for any living man.
As always, hunting instinct urges Liem closer to make the kill at a more intimate distance—to lean a knee onto that slender back and open Makoto’s throat with his teeth. But both wisdom and civility bid otherwise. He loads another bolt into his weapon, aiming it at the vulnerable stretch of his battered ribs to finally pierce his heart.
Instead, his shot ricochets hard off the bare cobbles just past where Makoto had been kneeling a moment before. Liem swears under his breath, lifting his head to glance around in search of his vanished quarry, his ears straining for the scuff of movement on stone. Long seconds pass as he waits for Makoto to betray his presence.
But his retreat seems total. Liem stalks over to the blood-spattered street where he’d last been and looks about. Only empty side-streets and alleys greet him.
His dark eyes narrow.]
We’d best move quickly. I don’t want to be caught in the street when someone else comes for us.
no subject
As always, hunting instinct urges Liem closer to make the kill at a more intimate distance—to lean a knee onto that slender back and open Makoto’s throat with his teeth. But both wisdom and civility bid otherwise. He loads another bolt into his weapon, aiming it at the vulnerable stretch of his battered ribs to finally pierce his heart.
Instead, his shot ricochets hard off the bare cobbles just past where Makoto had been kneeling a moment before. Liem swears under his breath, lifting his head to glance around in search of his vanished quarry, his ears straining for the scuff of movement on stone. Long seconds pass as he waits for Makoto to betray his presence.
But his retreat seems total. Liem stalks over to the blood-spattered street where he’d last been and looks about. Only empty side-streets and alleys greet him.
His dark eyes narrow.]
We’d best move quickly. I don’t want to be caught in the street when someone else comes for us.