"Kaiden Grey, at last." He took one hand from his pocket and offered it. "Viktor Thorne. I've been looking forward to meeting you for a very long time."
Viktor closed his offered hand into a fist and lunged, turning the greeting into a punch at Kaiden's chest.
Kaiden raised his gauntlet in time to block. The blow drove his armored forearm into his ribs, and he felt one crack as he staggered back toward the bench. Aria and Yunohana were getting up behind him.
'Fuck... What is that Strength?'
He cursed inwardly, feeling his insides crying out in alarm.
Kaiden couldn't give this man another step. He planted his feet, caught the man's punching wrist, and twisted it away from the women.
Across the pond, one of their escort guards swung at Alice and Alexandra as they rose from their bench. Calypso caught his sword on her axe, shielding them while Luna got up from the adjoining table.
Then someone shouted the Storm Valkyrie's name from the entrance.
"Luna! It's me!"
