The Sabersmith

Chapter 8: The Zophis Crystal

Cardo's POV

Time with Marina is just what I needed. Alone with her in my quarters on our ship. And even though I didn't have her underneath me, begging me for more, this is exactly what she needed too.

Marina was seated in the middle of the room, and I stood directly in front of her, pacing and coaching her through the Shadow. The only thing I was wary of was the fact that she could do what she did before without any kind of training. I wondered what meditation and real training with the Shadow could do, even if it did worry me about her safety. Her temper in the Shadow was strong enough that I was surprised she hadn't yet hurt herself.

"The Shadow. You can feel the power of it in this room. Can you sense it?"

She exhaled, long and slow, but I could still feel her tension. "Yes, I can feel it."

I tried not to let out a frustrated mumble, but I was sure something escaped me. She wasn't letting go completely. It was as if she was always stressed, like she could never relax. I was hoping some meditation could help that, but it didn't seem to be working the way it should have been. "What does it feel like?"

She gulped. I could tell she didn't want to answer me. "Hot, like a fire, ready to explode... like it wants to escape."

That was good. That was something. She could feel it. She just couldn't give herself to trust it because of what she had seen it do before. "That's where it comes from, in you. Your anger, frustration. You explode when you use it, moving things around you... but there is much more to the force than that alone."

Her eyes opened and looked up at my helmet. Those beautiful eyes. I think I know what might help. But I don't know if I want to feel that weak again.

But those eyes. She knew how to pull me in without trying at all.

I exhaled, realizing I had stopped breathing a moment ago. What was she doing to me?

Fuck!

My steps towards her grew quick before I had her throat in my grasp. She gasped and struggled to stand up as I lifted her, and her small hands made their way around my arm.

"Cardo," her voice fought to speak against my hold. "What are you—?"

"Can you sense it?" I repeated, my voice straining with rage. "You need to feel more than the Shadow around you. That isn't enough. How do you feel?"

I slowly let go of her throat, so she could speak clearly.

She took a deep breath in. But she didn't say anything.

"You have so much power," I growled lowly. I needed more from her. I needed to get her to feel the same as she did in the Silencer. "Tell me how you felt the night before we left for Alzoc."

Her face froze. I could feel confusion coming from her, and her mind was racing to the conversation she had with Kylo.

"Not that," I stated firmly and squeezed her throat again. "The night you touched yourself to me. You touched yourself thinking about the others, too."

Marina's face reddened, but not from my hand. She was mortified that we knew what she did. "I felt... aroused. Warm and electric."

"More!" I shouted, my helmet moving closer to her face. "How did you feel when I fucked you in the Silencer?"

"A swarm," she spat out quickly. "Pleasure like I've never felt—"

"How did you feel when I finally made you come?!"

"Strong!" she shouted back to me. She was practically shaking in my grasp, but she was not trying to escape me. "Powerful, and completely unstoppable!"

Her eyes told me exactly what she was thinking, slowly watering as she held back tears. Her tears weren't caused by sadness. I didn't have to use the Shadow to see what she was thinking this time.