But Xalor couldn't stop himself and leaned in; the familiar scent of him wafted up to him. It was a scent he both detested and found oddly compelling. Despite the rage building within him, he inhaled deeply, trying to break the mix of emotions it stirred. The scent was a bittersweet echo of their past, a reminder of what once was, now twisted into something painfully saddening.
But unaware of all his emotions, Cassian, who was pinned helplessly against the wall, was on the brink of emotional collapse. He had been heading back to his quarters silently; his mind was filled with numerous thoughts.
He didn't know when this unknown figure had appeared from nowhere. The oppressive aura of murderous intent pressed down on him, making it hard for him to breathe, and the hold on his neck was painfully tight. The place where Xalor's hand gripped him burned with a strange, searing heat, a sensation that left Cassian feeling both confused and frightened.
