“Don’t play coy with me, bitch. I’m his Beta Mare, held above all others. You think a sniff of Earthbound pussy will save you?”
She brings her other hand to my throat, tightening her grip. Black dots dance in my vision as I struggle to breathe. I grip her wrists, trying to pull them away.
“I—don’t—think—that,” I manage between gasps.
She roars—a guttural sound that tears through the air—and slams her fist into my face. My cheek and right eye explode with pain, and my head fills with a dull throb, compounded by the lack of air.
My knees buckle as my legs lose all feeling. Numbness spreads from my fingertips up my arms, and my feeble grip on her wrists falls away, my arms hanging useless.
The blackness creeps in like a hunting beast, slowly stalking its prey. I try to draw a breath, but there’s nothing. My lungs clench painfully in my chest as darkness reaches my eyes, and they flutter shut.
Then I hear his voice—seeming far away yet whispering in my ear.
“I suggest you remove those damn hands from what is mine before I slit your fucking throat.” The order delivered low and controlled—a promise.
I manage to open my eyes and see a short silver dagger resting at her throat, held by a dangerously furious Domanikk.
Her grip loosens, and I manage a small, sweet breath of air.
“If I have to say it again, it won’t be a promise—it’ll be reality. And I’d rather not piss Reth off right now.”
With a hiss through clenched teeth, Ceira drops her hands, and I collapse to the ground.
Rawson appears from inside the tent, his mouth agape as he looks between Ceira, Domanikk, and me.
“What in the name of the Gods is going on?”
“That’s what I want to know, Rawson. You were supposed to be watching her. If I hadn’t come to find you both, Ceira would have killed her.”
Ceira turns to leave, and Domanikk grabs her forearm.
“You lay a handanywhereon her again, and I’ll make sure Reth rips that Enchantra from your chest and exiles you to the Barrens.”
“Keep your bitch on a shorter leash,” she spits back, shrugging free and sauntering away between the tents.
“Hey, I’m sorry, Dom, but—” Rawson starts.
“Don’t. Just don’t. I’m one second away from putting my hand through your face. And if you breathe a word to Reth that I have this dagger, I’ll shove it so far up your arse your breath will smell of shit.” He sheathes the dagger back into itsscabbard with a slow, deliberate motion, his eyes never leaving Rawson. “Take her back to my tent and stay with her until I return. I need to speak to Reth immediately. I’d rather not leave her at all, but this can’t wait.”
Rawson’s strong arms lift me, and I cry out as pain shoots through my body. The agony makes my head spin, nausea flooding my belly.
Soft lips press to my forehead.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, my love,” Domanikk says, his voice soft and reassuring as he gently brushes a strand of hair from my face.
Rawson lays me gently down on the blankets. I close my eyes and just lie there, not daring to move. I can’t see him, but I feel Rawson sitting next to me, the air tight with his tension.
“Im—” he starts, voice tight “Damn it … fucking Ceira! Sorry I let you down.”
“You didn’t try to strangle me.” I reply, my voice flat.
“Did you at least have a little fun before that?”
“I did. Thank you, Rawson.”
We fall back into silence.
When Domanikk returns, he tells Rawson to leave. The blankets shift as he sits down beside me. His hand cups my right cheek, and I hiss with pain, my eyes flying open to find Domanikk’s concerned face hovering above mine.
