Paros finished off the rogue beasts with swift efficiency, but the moment he turned around, he caught sight of the dark powder the female had flung at Rory in her dying breath.
A jolt of alarm shot through him, and he barked out a warning: "Rory, hold your breath!"
Still, he was a fraction too late.
"Cough, cough!"
Even as Paros spoke, Rory had already inhaled several lungfuls of the powder, choking out a few hacking coughs. What in the world was this stuff? Why was it so pungent?
Paros rushed back to her side, his expression tight with anxiety. "How are you feeling?"
"What is this powder?" Rory's eyes watered from the irritation. "Why is it so suffocating?"
"It's a specialized substance engineered to target females." Paros scooped Rory up into his arms without a second thought. "I'm taking you to find Vincent and the others right now."
As Paros carried her away, Rory felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. "Paros... what kind of drug was that?"
