He jolts when I snarl. “Do not act stupid with me,human.” I could make his bones splinter out of his skin in a blink of an eye.
The male sputters with his attempt to speak. As much as I would rather take his pathetic life now, my curiosity wins over. I loosen my grip. “I don’t know?—”
“You are testing my patience,” I snap, tightening my limbs around him to drive my point. The first bone cracks, and I smile. “The precious treasure who was in this death contraption with you earlier.”
I adjust my hold enough for him to speak. “Cindi?” he coughs and sobs at the same time.
That is my mate's name? It’s perfect.
“Cindi,”I say, rolling my tongue around each letter as if I may be able to taste her. I repeat her name several more times, enjoying the way it sounds.
Queen Cindi of Aletia, breaker of the Curse upon the Dead Lands.
Yes. I like that a lot.
The slimy human’s nails dig into my tentacle. “Cindi is?—”
Crimson sears my vision. How dare he speakmymate’s name onhistongue. I crush his throat in my hand. Tendon and bone mince together. He has no need for speech or breath. Nohumanis going to educate me about my own female. He has lived long enough. He must suffer for what he’s done to Cindi.
A delighted sound rumbles through my chest.
My mate,Cindi.
I repeat her name in my mind, over and over, as I squeeze my limbs around the human until his bones have flattened against the seat, stabbing into me. Blood pours over my tentacles, soaking into the fabric of the vehicle, but I pay none of it any mind.
“Cindi,” I say again, a slow smile spreading across my face. “Cindi, bride of Ordus.” A purr rumbles through me, and one of my tentacles wags side to side on the floor. I lean my chin against the headrest, picturing the way her eyes heated when I was holding her.
Cindi wanted me.
Mymatewants me.
I avenged her. She will want me now.
5
Vasz
Rock.
Rock.
Rock.
Ro—not a rock. It’s moving.
I peer closer. Since when do rocks move—? A pincer clips onto my paw. I yelp, flinging my arm to the side. The crab goes soaring through the water and scuttles away from our battle. It’s too late. The damage is done. I bare my teeth at the cruel world, blue liquid trickling from the deep gash splitting my paw pad open.
“Bad crab,” I growl. It disappeared behind the reef, too afraid to face me again.
Hmph.That’s what I thought.
I curl my arm so I can lick the grievous wound. I could’ve died. I am so brave for surviving such a heinous attack. I was a warrior in my last life, and in this. Ordus will build a shrine in my name for protecting him from a vicious foe.
I glance toward him, holding my head high to receive his gratitude. He dragged me to the mainland to see the human last night, made us sleep in the woods around her house. Now, he’s making me wait around so he can watch his boring female. Is this my prize for my loyalty?
Agony slices up my arm when I place my paw flat against the sand. I choke back my whimper. A mighty warrior stands tall, even at the risk of bleeding out.
I stay still, about to die from blood loss, patiently waiting to be showered with praise.
