Page 114 of The Demon's Fire
“It’s Golarg. Let me in,venn.”
Spear motioned as if to cut her throat. “Bringing attention to yourself,min besettelse, would be a bad idea. Deadly.Dodelig.”
The hulking bear-like monster opened the front door, stooping to exit, shutting her in. Lizette picked out voices.
“Hva,Golarg? What is so important you disturb my home, my owntilflukt.”
“You stay longer in yourtilfluktthan you ever have. I never see you at the village roasts or at the bar.Jeg er mistenkelig.”
“Why do you say you are suspicious?”
“You are a male who loves a good fight. Who loves to beatandre hanner blodig.”
“Perhaps I have lost interest in beating stupid males to a bloody pulp. What do you care? I am not yourunderholdning, your entertainment.”
“Will you offer me libation? I could use a strongtraust.”
“No beer. Go now!Ga!”
Boots scraped through gravel as if Spear’s unwelcome guest was leaving, but he must have spun around.
“Oh, Firebrands came to the village today asking about a female who might have been bought as a sex slave, akjonner, a humankjonner. Of course, no one knew of one. Then I thought of how quiet my friend Spear has been. How he never comes out anymore except when he must work.”
A loud growl sounded. Lizette was sure it was Spear. “You think too much. It can be dangerous.”
“I said to myself, my friend could not have such a prize because if he did, he would share with his old friend.”
Lizette swallowed hard as fear rose in her throat. She was barely hanging on to her sanity with Spear. What if another man used her?
Thud.Umpff.She heard scuffling as if Spear and his guest were rolling on the ground. One of them uttered a feeble plea.Twack. Over and over. Then something was dragged off.
After about fifteen minutes, Spear returned with blood on his clothes, face, and hands. His wild eyes darted about the cabin, settling on a wall. He grabbed an axe from the hook and tromped toward the door.
“I’ll be back,min besettelse.” Then he laughed, heartless, malicious. “Don’t go anywhere.”
****
Winstonheld the door, motioning Skyler through. As she stepped into Manfredo’s, an image of Kole and her on a date popped into her head.
He doesn’t whip open the door for me to enter. No, he storms through ahead of me in full battle mode, expecting trouble. When all is safe, he turns to me, gruffly announcing, “Hurry up. We don’t have all day, female.”
She grinned.
“What’s funny?” asked Winston.
“Nothing.” Her heart, however, thumped against her chest when she thought about the Firebrand commander. His smile. His fiery gold eyes. His stubbled, determined jaw. The jolt of electricity to make her orgasm.
Taking Skyler’s elbow, Winston led her to the host’s desk where Manfredo greeted them. Though they had been coming here for years, the owner’s acknowledgment was cool.
At the table, Winston pulled out her chair before he took his own seat. As usual, small talk dominated their conversation.
“How was your trip?” He opened the wine list, his gaze passing between Skyler and his task.
“The trip…” Skyler paused and chose her words carefully, “…had an unexpected turn.”
“Such as?” he asked without looking up.
“Nothing of interest to you.”
