I drew my hand down his chest slowly, holding his stare. His eyes filled with lust and his lips parted on a surprised breath. I continued to move my hand down and grasped his cock. Granelt groaned, his eyes closing in bliss. Then I squeezed hard and yanked. Granelt screamed and rolled away while I scrambled to my feet and started to run.
“You fucking bitch!” Granelt half groaned/half shouted after me.
I made it fifteen feet before I heard his footsteps catching up to me. I ran past a few other men but I knew they wouldn't help me. With my luck, if I asked them to protect me, they'd help Granelt instead, maybe in the hopes of getting a turn. So, I ignored their vicious smirks at my frantic flight and put on more speed. Then I turned a corner and saw Rusalla. I was going to run past her as well, not expecting help from that quarter either, but she grabbed my upper arm and yanked me to a stop.
“What are you doing, girl?” Rusalla pulled me into a bedroom with her. After a quick look up and down the corridor, she shut the door and faced me. “If one of them had caught you alone do you know what could have happened?”
“Oh, yes, I know,” I growled, my chest heaving. “I knowexactlywhat could have happened.”
“Who was it?” She asked in a softer tone. “Do you know his name?”
“Granelt.”
“Granelt. Of course. He's always been trouble.” She grimaced and waved to a chair. “Sit down.”
I settled into the chair and watched her warily. Rusalla pushed at a glossy wall and opened a cabinet within. Inside were shelves of bottles filled with liquids and herbs, small statues, and ritual daggers. She grabbed a bottle, poured its dark contents into a glass, and brought it to me. I took it but didn't drink.
“It's not poison,” Rusalla huffed as she took the chair across from mine. “Just wine.”
“It wouldn't matter if it were,” I muttered and sipped. It was good so I took another sip.
“Yes, I've heard that you're invulnerable.”
“Not exactly, but that will do.”
Rusalla peered at me for a few minutes, then asked, “Why did you run from him?”
“From Granelt?” I asked in shock. “Why do you think?”
“Not Granelt.” She rolled her eyes. “Braxis. I saw you leave the dining hall. You looked as if the entire Horde of Hell were after you.”
“It's called a rec room, not a dining hall.” I looked away.
“Braxis is a compelling man. He can be hard to resist, I imagine.”
“I'm married. To three men. And committed to a fourth.”
“I know.”
“Braxis is my enemy.”
“I know that too. And you aremyenemy. Yet I sit here and share my wine with you.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“I heard what you said to Braxis this morning—that he's a good man.” Rusalla narrowed her eyes at me. “You might even want to believe it.”
“He's done some terrible things to me,” I murmured.
“And you have done unspeakable things to people he loves,” she shot back.
I took a deep breath and let it out. “Oneunspeakable thing duringwar.”
Rusalla made a scoffing sound. “There are some things that even war does not excuse.”
“I know,” I huffed out a sigh. “I apologized.”
“You what?” She looked up in surprise.
