Page 53 of Tail Me No Lies
“The province is building a maglev line,” he spat. “Do you see now? One parcel of land is not enough to entice the developers.”
Ruth wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. That was it? He hounded her, spread rumors, vandalized her house, for that? “You went on and on about your family’s legacy and you want to build a railroad through it?”
“A maglev. It is the future of cost-effective transportation and will drag this backward town into that future.”
“A future with you profiting off land you bought cheap.”
“That is capitalism, human.”
She snorted. “Oh, you don’t have to explain capitalism to me. I’m just disappointed. I guess I wanted some grand scheme or lost gold. Rare minerals would have also worked. Something more interesting than you just wanted to sell it to a property developer.”
His face flushed an intense shade of red, the kind of red that cartoons used just before the characters blew their top. Or an artery, judging from the view throbbing on his forehead.
Geral drew his hand back, to strike her.
Ruth went cold. She pushed him too far. Tucking her head down, she raised her arms to shield herself.
Nox
Nox grabbed the doomed male’s arm before he struck Ruth.
“I would not,” he said. His claws pierced the male’s skin as he twisted the male’s arm behind his back. Blood made his grip slippery, so he dug his claws in.
The male wasn’t going anywhere.
All Nox saw was red. All he heard was the blood pounding in his ears. He wanted to rip the horns off this male’s head and remove the hand that dared to touch his mate. Tearing off his tail and stuffing it down the male’s throat held a wicked appeal.
Humility. Patience. Kindness. Justice. Forgiveness.
He glanced at Ruth, his mind a blank for the other virtues. She lowered her arms, fury blazing in her eyes.
The male had no humility. He did not deserve Nox’s patience or kindness. Ruth deserved justice.
Some beings might have forgiveness for Geral, but Nox had none.
“Did he hurt you?” Nox asked.
“I did not,” Geral said, though no one asked him. He struggled to break free but did not succeed.
“You will speak when spoken to,” Nox growled. “Do not make me stuff your tail down your throat.”
He twisted Geral’s arm so the male understood, causing the man to yelp. It infuriated him that this worthless male had the audacity to strike his mate and make her cower. Distantly, he grew aware of the crowd gathering. They needed to leave before someone recognized him.
“I’m fine,” Ruth said. “How much of that did you hear?”
“Enough.” Nox tugged on Geral’s arm. He bowed backward and whimpered. Odd. Usually inflicting pain gave him satisfaction. This felt hollow. Ruth’s distress was the result of his failure. He stepped away to fetch beverages and this craven male slithered over.
Physical pain would not be punishment enough. Nox needed to cripple the male, to take away his ability to ever speak to Ruth again.
“I’ve never removed a tongue. I think I’d like to try,” he said.
Ruth placed a hand on his arm, snagging his attention. “We should go,” she said.
“Run away, Scourge,” Geral said because the male lacked any sense of self-preservation.
Ruth punched him.
Her fist collided with his jaw. The male’s head spun, spraying spit and blood.
