The leader stops smiling. “Then why are you missing your barb?” He launches himself as Eskar.
Eskar sweeps his blade up. I suck in a breath, but there’s no blood in this fight. Only a few drops of water as they shed their flesh through some kind of magic.
The other two advance, both taking on that frosted water look. It’s fucking creepy and I want to run, but there is nowhere safe to hide. I fire my gun twice and it goes through them with barely a ripple.
Then I remember the way Eskar avoided the fire. I turn and run. Harding might be captured, but I’ll face worse. I’m almost there when I’m grabbed. I’m shoved to my knees, a fist tangled in my hair. If they pull any harder, they’ll be tearing out clumps.
“You’re as weak as him. You should’ve been fighting by his side,” the leader sneers.
Eskar is opposite me on his knees, he’s staring at the dirt between us. The fight is over. Harding is shoved down next to me.
I close my eyes to stop myself from looking for Wraight. He’s smart, he’ll stay quiet. Or he’s passed out. If I’m taken, I won’t be able to clean and stitch his wounds. He’ll be injured and on his own.
Eskar grunts in pain, and I open my eyes. The leader is holding Eskar’s tail and pressing on the tip. “Now why would you sting your new friend? You aren’t in line for a mate and claiming one out of order definitely goes against all protocol.”
He opens his mouth to answer, but I cut in.
“I wanted it. What’s a girl to do but pick the biggest man around?” I glance at Harding. He knows it’s not the truth, and even though he’s tall for a human, he’s still shorter than any of these Paohl. “I figured a Paohl would be an upgrade on a human.”
Maybe that was spreading it on a bit thick, but the leader seemed to have an ego, and men with egos liked them to be petted. It’s a weakness they never see.
“Well, now you have more options,” his tail lifts as though to strike.
One dose of their mating drug was enough. I have no idea what two might do to me. Would his override Eskar’s? Would I become horny for both? I really don’t want to find out.
“But I’ve already chosen.”
The words are out before I see the slight shake of Eskar’s head.
The leader laughs. “No, you haven’t. I can tell you haven’t accepted the mating bond.”
How can he tell that?
“Well I would’ve, if you hadn’t shown up and spoiled the mood.” I pout.
Eskar looks at me, his eyebrows drawn together. Does he think I’m lying? Am I lying?
I don’t know anymore.
“Then I arrived in time.” He moves toward me. “I have been waiting a long time to have a mate.”
“I don’t want to be your mate.”
“You will.” His tail arcs toward me and the two-centimeter-long tip lodges in my chest.
Fuck. I try to brush the barb out of my skin, the same as I would with any sting, but it won’t come out. I can see the poison sack, like a single dew drop. The man holding me grasps my hands so I can’t remove the barb. I struggle and kick, trying to break free. But his hands are like iron, cold and unflinching.
Eskar doesn’t move. Doesn’t help. Maybe he doesn’t care. He only did this to me so he could die. I’d rather be Eskar’s mate than be with a man who wants me simply because it’s his turn.
Defeated, I go still. All I can do is I watch in horror as the barb digs deeper into my skin and the poison drains into me.
Chapter 11
My blood is on fire.The heat spreads beneath my skin. My heartbeat increases. I can feel my pulse between my legs. And even though I know it’s just the drug, I can’t help but stare at Eskar and wonder what his dick’s like. I mean, I wasn’t exactly looking when he saved my life, plus he was literally in icy water. But now?
I peer past the Paohl man in front of me and try to gauge from the way Eskar’s uniform fits.
The man in front of me lifts my chin. “Look at me, not him.”
