River gave me a tiny smile in return. He looked proud of himself. He carefully stood up on his wobbly legs. "Let me see if I can get you out of that cage."
"Thank you."
The angry screams grew louder as they approached us. River froze. The front door slammed open followed by stomping footsteps before the poachers exploded through the bathroom door. Their faces were purple with rage.
River instinctively yelped and fell back, his unsteady human legs failing him. But he didn't fall to the ground because one of the poachers grabbed him furiously.
"You good for nothing piece of shit!" the man roared in River’s face. "You just cost us the sale! Didn't I say you would regret it if you didn't change back?"
River was too terrified to speak. He shook like a leaf in the poacher’s painful grip.
"Oh, so now you don't want to talk?" the man snapped.
Fear drenched me. My heart pounded like it was going to split open. I'd never felt so helpless. Why had I been so stupid to allow them to lock me in this cage? Now I could do nothing except watch as this human harassed and abused my fated mate.
"Just let me go already!" River cried. "You heard what he said, no one's going to buy me now that they think I'm human."
Pure anger scorched the poacher’s face. My stomach dropped as his shoulder drew back.
I knew what he was going to do but I couldn't stop it. I wanted to shut my eyes, but I wouldn't let myself turn away. If River had to endure this, then so did I.
The poacher slapped River hard across the face.
River whimpered and fell to the ground, shocked.
"That's what you get for disobeying me," the man muttered. "Maybe now you'll think twice before you do it again."
My vision went red. If there was no cage holding me back, that man would be six feet under by now.
The other man growled and grabbed his partner's shoulder. "Cut it out. You're gonna damage it and then we won't be able to sell it."
The man who hit River grunted, wrenched out of his grip and stormed out of the room. The other followed, slamming the door behind him.
River stared at the wall with wide, glassy eyes. The impact on his cheek blossomed slowly until there was a visible dark mark marring his smooth flesh.
"River?" I called desperately.
He seemed to have heard me but he didn't reply. His gaze fell to the ground. I then noticed what he was looking at. As the poacher wound up to hit him, the sudden motion dislodged his key ring. The key to the cage lay on the floor in front of him.
He moved slowly, as if in a dream. He gingerly picked up the key, shuffled over to the cage and unlocked it.
I bolted out of the cage, shifted and threw my arms around River. "Are you okay? Talk to me."
River shook his head. He trembled in my grip. My heart sank.
I drew back to examine his face. The mark was already getting darker. "You're hurt," I murmured in sympathy. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have let this happen."
He replied in the smallest, saddest voice, "Not your fault."
I held him tighter. I never wanted to let go of him.
"I won't let them hurt you again," I said. "I swear on my life."
River’s fingers curled into my chest and he shook his head with a halfhearted smirk. "Don't swear on your life. I need you."
"Okay. I'm sorry. I'm here. I'll always be here."
He nodded and I felt wetness. He was crying silently. My heart shattered.
