Page 7 of All's Fair in Lion and War
Her arm throbbed again, sending lines fire through her whole body. She was already close to passing out. The damn male would probably do as he pleased while she was out cold. Somehow that thought scared her worse than him doing things to her while she was conscious. At least while she was awake, she would know what was happening to her.
“I’d rather you not touch me at all.”
His eyes narrowed and the rumble in his chest didn’t stop. “I’m here to help you.”
“I don’t believe you.” Her voice was no more than a whisper.
“I’m Saul.” He spoke softer this time. The rumble in his chest stopped. “I apologize for the pain this will cause you.”
Pain this will—what!
He moved so quickly. He took hold of her arm and put a knee against her chest, pinning her against the large arm of the couch.
She struggled and pushed and yelled.
He yanked hard.
It felt like the end. Blackness invaded her vision. Acid climbed from her stomach into her throat.
Pain tore through her arm and shoulder like a wildfire in a dry forest. His mouth was on hers, drowning out her scream. His whole body was against hers. He was warm and smelled of woodsmoke andlappintrees, but he was hurting her.
He’d said he wouldn’t hurt her. Except he was only hurting her to fix her arm. At least so far. There wasn’t a way to fix it without pain.
She felt the joint go back into place. The pain eased. Not much, but at least enough that the blackness receded along with the stomach acid threatening her dry mouth.
He pulled back from her lips, his breathing sporadic and panting. Then he withdrew from the couch completely, crouching on the floor at her feet instead. One of his hands rested on her uninjured thigh.
“Pants next.” He was calm. How was he so calm?
She shook her head and wiped away the tears that had fallen unbidden by the pain.
“You lied.” Lorelei’s voice was scratchy and broken.
He shook his head. “I didn’t cause the harm. I’m trying to fix it.”
“Why did you put your mouth on me?” She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. His taste was still there and she liked it, which pissed her off even more. She would never dream of betraying Tallix. “You’re the same as them.” Her angry tone punched at him with each word.
His eyes glittered more golden, but he didn’t visually react in any other way. His face remained peaceful and still and his movements, except for the strength and skill he’d revealed to fix her arm, were also slow and methodical.
“They are hunting. You were loud.”
Lorelei opened her mouth to say something and then shut it to consider what he’d revealed. “You’re not with Rivian.”
The male shook his head, enough to answer her question.
Had he been meeting up with them? And now he’d taken her and was what…hiding her from them?
Rivian was going to be furious that this male had taken her. Stealing her from Tallix was the worst kind of torture and Rivian knew it. Her brother-in-law would rather she be dead than free to return to Tallix. He’d hunt her until that became truth. He’d tried and failed to take her years ago when she’d first become his brother’s queen.
Somehow, he’d finally succeeded. Why couldn’t she remember how he’d done it?
“He won’t stop,” she said. “He’ll never stop.”
Saul’s eyes glowed bright gold. “No female should be treated as they were treating you. They will never touch you again.”
“Just you?” Her malice made her words sharp as claws.
The gold faded from Saul’s eyes and they got a faraway distant and painful look. So much pain Lorelei could feel it echoing in her own chest.
