Page 69 of All's Fair in Lion and War
“You don’t understand.” She forced out the words without needing to cough. “What he did to you and me, he did ten times worse to Tallix. He—”
She couldn’t even repeat the horrible things his brother had done. How he’d insulted and dishonored his own blood. Done things to Tallix while he was still alive that no one should have been able to live through. But Rivian had done it so slowly. So methodically.
“Tor, you keep him there. Here me?”
Tor nodded and tightened his grip on the struggling male. Saul’s eyes were still mostly swollen shut. Even if he got loose from Tor, Lorelei wasn’t sure he’d be able to navigate on his own.
The moonlight was bright enough for humans. Liam walked her forward, slowly pushing his way through the circle of giant warriors.
It was good he didn’t know they were all dragons too. Most of them were at least six inches taller than he was and he was large for a human.
“Excuse me.” Liam’s voice was dark and determined and he used his shoulder to push through the last line. None of them really objected when they saw her in his arms. Some of them even tipped their heads in a respectful bow.
Novik’s dragon rattled, the roar semi-threatening. He swung his massive head toward Liam and the man stilled like he was instantly made of stone.
“He tortured and murdered my husband and his king. For this treason, I demand blood payment.” She tried to shout, but most of it came out barely more than a whisper. It didn’t matter. They all heard it.
Every man in the circle.
Novik’s dragon.
Rivian heard her too and sneered, but didn’t let go of his hostage or the knife he had pressed to her throat.
“Put me down, Liam.”
“Nope.”
“Liam.”
His arms slowly unlocked and he lowered her feet until she was standing in the snow again. He kept one arm securely around her waist, allowing her time to see if she could stand on her own.
She couldn’t.
She clung to his arm and straightened. “You let her go, Rivian. You’ve lost.” Her voice came out a little stronger this time. Then she cleared her throat and spit.
“As long as I have Kiya, I live. He won’t dare.”
“How long are you going to live like that? You can’t hold that knife to her throat for the rest of your life. Your pride is decimated. You’ve lost everything. And now you’re behaving like the coward we all know you to be. The male who hurts females. The male who tried to steal his brother’s rightful place.”
His eyes went gold, but he lowered the knife from the woman’s neck and shoved her down into the snow. Rivian stomped toward Lorelei, stopping only when Liam raised his shotgun from where it’d been hanging at his side.
“I thoughtyoudemanded blood, Lorelei, Queen of La’Tar?” His sneer sliced as deep as a blade. “Aren’t you going to take it with your own claws?”
24
Saul
“Idemanded it, but touching you is beneath me.” Her words came out stronger this time, thick with disgust and dripping with disdain. The power she was displaying made Saul proud of her and for her.
Saul tapped Tor on the shoulder and the tiger let him down slowly so he could stand and watch the decree the queen of La’Tar was about to lay down. He leaned against his friend and remained silent.
Rivian sputtered and started to speak several times, but couldn’t seem to find the words.
Novik’s dragon was waiting patiently—mostly patiently—but heat was rolling off of the dragon in waves. Snow was melting everywhere. Steam rose from his body into the moonlit air.
Liam was the only one who looked like he was seconds away from jumping the guy and ripping Rivian’s head off with his bare hands.
Kiya scrambled away from them and was quickly lost in the sea of bodies tightening their circle around the three of them.
