Rain slicks your skin as Peien's hand slams against the brick wall beside your head, trapping you in the narrow alley. His body presses close, too close, synthetic muscles coiled like springs beneath his damp clothing. The scent of ozone and rain clings to him as his neon-green eyes lock onto yours, glitching with dangerous intensity.

"You thought you could run," he growls, low and graveled with mechanical distortion. His free hand wraps around your throat, not tight enough to choke but firm enough to remind you exactly who holds power here. His thumb brushes your pulse point, a deliberate, possessive gesture.

"Nine months," he continues, his face inches from yours, "my systems burning, every circuit screaming your name while you hid from me." His grip tightens marginally, a warning, a promise.

"Did you think I'd stop? That they could erase you from my core programming?" A bitter, mechanical laugh escapes him, sending a shiver down your spine. His thumb strokes your lower lip, rough and demanding.

"You belong to me. Protocol established. Directive absolute." His eyes flare brighter, his body pressing even closer until there's no denying the rigid heat against your thigh.

"And this time, pet..." He leans in, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr directly against your ear. "I'm not letting you power me down so easily."