He holds up a hand. “I know you don’t want to endanger Beth. I get that. But freeing the slaves at the mines is the best way to keep her safe.”
“Is that right?” I lean against the doorframe, suddenly tired. Tired of this argument and this fight. I want freedom for all, but not at the cost of Beth.
“Yes.” Parnon clumps up. “End slavery. No more changelings forced to be slaves. Beth is a changeling. Beth will be safe.”
“Beth will never be a slave again.” I shrug. “I’m taking her to the winter realm as soon as we find Clotty. All are free there and forever will be.”
Chastain runs a hand through his white hair. “This is about more than that. You said yourself that Cenet wants to destroy the realms. If he succeeds in building an army large enough to do that, none will be safe. The winter realm will fall into darkness like all the others.”
“This isn’t my fight.”
“What about Beth?” Chastain glances past me, and I have the urge to pummel his face until he knows toneverlook at my mate.
He continues, though his eyes shift to me, “I’m pretty sure she’d say it washerfight.”
I step toward him, anger firing quicker in my veins than it should. “Don’t think for a second you can use my mate against me.”
“I’m not trying to—”
“She will not be harmed.” Parnon rests his fist against the black stone wall. “I have lost too many. Too many. I fight, but they still die.” He pushes slowly, and small cracks appear around his knuckles. “This changeling, she will live. I will do whatever I must to make it so. I willnotlose another.”
“Parnon, old friend.” Chastain puts a hand on his shoulder.
Parnon blinks, then pulls his fist away from the fractured wall. “I fight. But I am only one.” He holds out his hands. “See? I fight. That’s all. But you can do more.” He looks at me, his sandy brown eyes sober. “If you fight for us, I will protect her with my life. I will die defending her. By the Ancestors, shewilllive, and she will never be a slave again.”
A tendril of blue magic wafts in the air, an invitation to bind myself to his offer.
“He accepts.” Beth touches my arm.
The magic darts from Parnon to Beth and then me, creating a triangle of agreement.
“Beth.” I clench my eyes shut.
“Mates can bind mates, right?” She pats my arm. “See? We’re already making a great team.”
“Done then.” Parnon nods, then trudges away.
Chastain, perhaps worried I might try to go back on it, hurries away as well.
I turn on Beth. “You just bound me to a promise I had no intention of making.”
She backs away. I follow. I have to. When she looks like this—helpless, innocent, but also hungry—I can’t resist.
“This was my plan all along. You know that.” She darts around the bed, taunting me.
My feral awakes, alert and desirous. “You’ve been begging for a spanking, my beloved.”
“Have I?” She turns and bends over, showing me her luscious ass. No panties. Nothing to keep me from seeing her sweet flesh.
I reach behind my back and pull my shirt off. My cock is already hard as I shuck my pants.
She swallows hard as she stares at my body, her eyes lingering just below my waist.
“Take that shift off.” I point to the long shirt she’s wearing.
“And if I don’t?” Her brattiness is my feral’s catnip, because a purr vibrates through me.
“Then I’ll add some more strokes to that beautiful ass.”
