Page 45 of Urban Gladiator

We reached a heavy wooden door where Ember’s scent was the strongest. She was inside. I felt it. Glancing at Simon, he nodded his understanding. He was to secure Ember while I dealt with the griffin.

We pushed inside. It was a bedroom with luxurious trappings. My gaze zeroed in on the bed and the way the covers were askew. A low rumbling growl rattled in my chest. Had the fucker already touched her? Bedded her? But where the fuck were they because the room was empty. Had he taken her out? Was she even now riding him, and in more ways than one?

I wanted to destroy this room and everything in it. But then my ears detected people talking low in the bathroom. Two voices, male and female.

My female.

Simon reached the door first and quietly shoved it open. And it’s a good thing he did. Because he now stood between me and the griffin touching my mate. My very naked mate.

“Take your fucking hands off my mate,” I roared. I seethed, seeing red. How could she let him touch her? Her betrayal scored my soul.

“Your mate?” the griffin sputtered, glancing between us. Abject horror etched his features. “Lass, is this true? Are you his mate?”

But she didn’t know she was my mate. I’d not told her. Nor had I claimed her. But it was no excuse for her treachery.

“Rowan.” Ember breathed my name. And for a brief flash of a second, I spied relief in her eyes, followed by scowling consternation.

Why did I get the sneaking suspicion that Ember wasn’t here by choice? My eyes narrowed, and I swiveled my attention toward the griffin.

Was he holding my mate against her will?

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I knew it was what he believed, but I wasn’t sold on it. Because if I was truly his mate, how could he plan to sacrifice me? It didn’t make sense. And I saw Rowan’s eyes. He believed to his core I was his mate. A mate who had betrayed him.

Well, shit. This wouldn’t end well.

Accusation lit Ian’s gaze with a furious scowl. He’d backed away from me to the far side of the tub. “You’re the fucking Prince of Avalon’s mate? Seriously, lass? Why the hell didn’t you say something?”

Ignoring Rowan and the vampire—and the fact that I was naked—I shook my head in denial. “I have no idea what he’s talking about. Until a few days ago, I was his prisoner. A prisoner he intends to sacrifice in a bloodletting ceremony.”

The vampire shot forward and stood between Ian and me. “She’s definitely his mate, although unclaimed. If I were you, I would back away from her with all due haste.”

Ian didn’t need to be told twice. His hands were up in a surrender gesture. “Had no idea because she wasn’t carrying your scent. Take her and go.”

“You think that’s going to save you?” Rowan snapped, his hackles raised and lips curled back. He was ferocious in his wrath. Deadly.

Lifting my ankle out of the water, I pointed to the silver shackle. “I need the key to these things, Ian. Damn you, don’t leave without removing them.”

“Did he do something to you, witch?” Rowan asked, growling low.

And we were back to witch and not Ember. That did not bode well for the coming fight. A fight I didn’t see any way of avoiding.

But I was angry enough at Ian that I nodded, and I replied, “He left me defenseless and messed with my powers using magical dampeners that he put around my ankles. I can’t remove them without the key. They’ve been spelled by dark magic.”

Rowan plodded toward Ian. Menace filled every line of his body. “What makes you think you can touch my mate and get away with it?”

Ian drew a small leather cord from around his neck with a silver key on it. It was the key to my freedom. He tossed it onto the floor beside the tub, not watching where it landed. His focus was on Rowan and the threat he posed.

“I’m sorry. Truly. If I’d known she was your mate, I never would have touched her.” Ian slowly emerged from the tub. His eyes flicked between Rowan and the vampire. In a flash, he shifted. And the moment he did, Rowan charged. At the last minute, Ian leapt over Rowan, narrowly missing getting his foreleg torn off. When he landed, he didn’t stick around, not with Rowan out for his blood. Ian shot forward and raced from the room.

Rowan snarled and chased after him.

My breath expelled in a rush. The standoff had been tense. But I had time before I’d be forced to confront Rowan and his fury.

While he was distracted with Ian, now would be my last chance to escape. Although I felt bad that Rowan would hurt Ian. Except the guy hadn’t taken no for an answer.

Emerging from the tub, I leaned down to pick up the key. But it was snatched from my grasp in a flash that left me gasping at the speed.

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