I try to jerk out of his grasp as Wyatt steps around us, opens the door to Leisel’s bedroom, and steps in.
“Don’t touch her!” I shout at him. “She’s protected by human laws! She’s nine years underage!”
My words are cut off when Camden fists one hand in my hair, turns me to face him, and practically crashes his lips down on mine. Trying to push against him is perfectly futile, and after a moment, my body inadvertently relaxes in his grip. A strange tingle travels through my chest, and after a moment I realize that the sensation is the mythical bond that connects all mates flaring to life. The tingle turns into a heat that bathes my body, traveling through me and focusing on my extremities, making me sag against Camden as pleasure fires up every nerve-ending within me. Although I know in my right mind that I despise Camden on principle, I can’t seem to communicate the fact to my body, which is completely pliable within his arms. My lips partat the firm probing of his tongue, and I’m helpless against him as he indulges in a thorough taste of my mouth.
I don’t know how long it is until Camden finally pulls back, but at the same time, Leisel’s shrill words cut through the air. “Don’t touch me!”
I renew my struggles against Camden, struggling against the bond between us, which I can somehow feel is attempting to keep me relaxed. A faux sensation of warmth travels through me, trying to lull me into a state of calm compliance. I fight against it with everything in me, refusing to submit. “I declared duelum,” I remind Camden, my voice rising in pitch as fear turns the blood in my veins to ice. “You can’t touch me until I win or lose the duel.”
Duelum carries with it a list of regulations; right now, they’re all I have to protect me and my sister.
He lets out a frustrated breath, untangling his hand from my hair and instead using it to hold me snugly against him. “It figures that I’d get paired with someone as stubborn as I am.” Giving his head a shake, he goes on. “You will be in the town square tomorrow at six a.m. for the duel. Afterwards, once you’ve lost, you and your sister will accompany me back to Kinrith. Am I clear?”
Grimly, I respond, “I have no intention of losing, but even if I do, you can’t take Leisel. She’s too young.”
He scoffs. “You intend to leave her here alone? I see no parents in this home, and I’d guess she can’t be older than ten. Who will take care of her?”
The acute pang of pain that sends through my chest is enough to nearly double me over. If I lose the fight, the fact of the matter is that Iwillhave to separate from Leisel. Although it’ll feel like a knife to my heart, she’d be safer here under the care of Mariketa than amongst shifters. A mate being underage may mean nothing to shifters, but Iwillnotallow Leisel to be ravaged by their depraved ways. It’s also why I need to get to Leiselnow.
Wyatt emerges from Leisel’s room with a look of absolute shock on his features. I notice that his neck and cheek are bleeding from what appear to be shallow bite marks made by a small animal and that almost makes me smile.
Chip’s as fierce a protector as I am. Any time Leisel clearly dislikes someone—which is a rarity—her trusty chipmunk will attack full force, switching from a subdued pet to a rabid creature in the span of a second. It’d appear that Wyatt got an unpleasant lesson in keeping his hands away from where they’re not wanted. The idea that he might’ve touched her chills my very bones though. Did he attempt to kiss her like Camden kissed me?
Camden releases me so abruptly that I stumble back. “Two pack members will be guarding this house,” he tells me. “Don’t try to run. They will escort you to the town square in the morning. I suggest you mentally prepare for your upcoming move, and prepare your sister, as well.”
With those words, he grabs Wyatt by the arm, drags him out of the house, and slams the door behind them. I rush forward to bolt and lock it before sprinting to Leisel’s room.
She throws herself at me as soon as I cross the threshold, hugging me as if I’m a lifeline. Her tears soak the material of my shirt, and her quiet sobs send pain radiating through my chest.
I gather her into my arms, barely noticing that Chip leaps onto my shoulder to avoid being crushed, and silently carry her to bed.
Taking a seat on the mattress and setting her down on my lap, I stroke my hands through her hair in what I hope is a calming gesture, even though I’m still beyond wound up from Camden’s forced kiss, my upcoming duel, and the fact that my life just got upended.
“Shh, sweet girl,” I soothe.
Leisel’s likely terrified after having shifters in the house—one of which apparently attempted to touch her. I can only pray that it wasn’t as inappropriate as Camden was with me.
I’m on the verge of bursting into tears—which would be the first time I’ve cried since my mother’s death—but manage to hold back. I quietly rock her back and forth until her sobs turn into occasional hiccups, and she settles down slightly.
“Don’t leave me,” she begs, pulling back and staring at me with watery golden eyes. Evidently, she heard Camden’s threats. I wish I’d made use of the knife still resting in my back pocket, after all.
“I’m not going anywhere, Leisel,” I quietly vow. I will win the duel tomorrow because there is no other option. Leaving Leisel would tear me in two, even if I knew she was in good hands.
She doesn’t look entirely convinced, and I suspect she’s a hairbreadth away from bursting back into tears. I look over her face and body, gratified that no bruises are forming on her flesh, making it clear that Wyatt never got around to putting his hands on her. Shifters are famous for forgetting their own strength and oftentimes injure humans with a mere touch.
“How about a warm glass of milk with honey?” I ask her, pushing a few wet strands of strawberry blonde hair off her face and tucking them behind her cheek. That’s a comfort drink of sorts for her and never fails to calm her.
Sniffling, she nods, and gingerly climbs off my lap. Chip leaps off of his perch from my shoulder onto hers, curling against the side of her neck. I think the little guy senses her need for comfort as much as I do.
“What happened while I was gone, sweet girl?” I ask her, leading her into the kitchen and watching as she sulks onto one of the chairsat the dining table, eyes following me as I fire up the stove, pour some milk and honey into a saucepan, and leave it to warm.
“He tried to hug me,” she murmurs.
My eyes flutter closed briefly with relief. Although I don’t want mutts anywhere near Leisel, it’s preferable that Wyatt merely tried to hug her to a number of more inappropriate things he could’ve attempted.
I give her a conspiratorial smile, wanting to lighten her mood. “And I’m sure Chip kicked his butt for the effort, didn’t he?”
Wanly, a half-smile flits across her lips. It’s quickly replaced by a frown. “Promise me you won’t leave,” she whispers.
