A hulking shadow broke away from the surrounding darkness. Man shaped, but far too tall, shoulders too broad, he was at my side before I had fully registered his presence. One massive hand clamped over my wrist, covering the comm bangle, nearly muting Kyla's message. "Please," I begged. "That's my friend, I need to know what she's saying." But that was as far as I got. With a quick twist he pulled me tight against...