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“Flee!” he bellowed, gesturing to the forest.
Why on earth did she run toward Leaf? Was she mad? This was her best chance to escape. She’d diluted her scent. Grung had been preoccupied with scouring the water. Many of the best trackers were dead or busy. But the desperation in her eyes told him she wasn’t thinking straight. For some stupid reason, she felt safer with him.
Their bodies clashed. Leaf’s arms banded around her, trapping her waterlogged and trembling body. Soft, feminine curves pressed against his hard physique. She’d erased her scent with salty water but still smelled inexplicably perfect. His relief triggered tumultuous emotions that warred with his logic. No blue Well-blessed marks sprung from the ground to wrap around their bodies. Nothing passed between them except the pounding of their hearts.
He’d caught her. But she wasn’t his fated mate.
A meaty hand landed on Leaf’s shoulder and tore him from Nova. He fell, rolled, and clawed the sand to halt his trajectory. Lifting his head, he targeted the orc. Grung stepped before Nova, blocking her with his big body.
“Mine,” he snarled.
“Run,” Leaf urged Nova.
But the damned woman refused, so he forced himself to ask the difficult question—was it worth risking his life for a woman who wasn’t his mate?
ChapterSeven
Nova registered hesitation in Leaf’s expression. Her heart lurched. Seconds ago, he embraced her like an old friend… like Jace. That big palm had cupped the back of her head like he used to.
She should have run as he’d urged. Instead, she eyed the dagger in Grung’s belt as he stalked toward the Guardian. Bravery—or foolishness—drove her feet forward in the sand. Leaf’s eyes widened, but he wasn’t fast enough to stop her.
Grung was.
He swung, flinging his giant fist. The blow to her temple sent her reeling. Stars danced. The ground fell away. She landed hard, and river water engulfed her face. She struggled to push herself up, to breathe.
Somewhere on the shore, she vaguely registered Grung’s roar of pain through her own. But then strong hands lifted her from the water. The face of comfort was inches from her own, worried and panicked.
“Are you alright?” Leaf rasped.
She tried to nod. Swallowed. He pushed her behind his body and faced the orc.
“I caught her,” he growled. “I won.”
“No one to witness but me.”
The Guardian mumbled “imbecile” under his breath, then roared, “You’ll lose control of your troop when they learn their leader doesn’t follow the rules.”
Leaf’s gaze darted down… to the orc’s crotch. Nova followed his gaze and almost puked. The captain was ready to lay his claim on Nova on the riverbank if necessary. Right here, the instant the Guardian was no longer an obstacle.
She should have run.
But what was the point if she couldn’t be near Jace—Leaf?Hoja de los Guardianes.Leaf of the Guardians. Whatever his name was. None of this made sense. All she knew was that she couldn’t walk away. And neither was he.
Shouts from the trees drew Grung’s attention. Leaf sprung forward. The orc took the punch on his thick forearm.
Nova feared that was the only chance David had against Goliath. But Leaf struck fast, hard, and true. It was like watching a killer cat, twisting and evading capture. He somehow took a hit to his body without flinching, never once removing his laser-sharp focus from his enemy.
The two mismatched opponents sparred along the riverbank. Leaf sent jab after jab to the orc, taking many in return to his body. He must be made of stone. That’s why he felt so solid when she’d embraced him.
Appreciation over the Guardian’s physique pushed into her mind. His single-minded tenacity to dominate caused goosebumps to erupt on her flesh. Seeing this warrior elf fight to protect her… and then inevitably claim her was oddly arousing. It shouldn’t be.
“Where is she?” A voice to her right.
Soldiers emerged from the forest, and her fear washed back in. They must have failed at claiming the others and came here to try their luck with her.
Leaf stabbed the orc in his eye, staggered back, and straightened his spine. His long blond hair had come loose and dripped down his back. He looked wild, uncivilized, and brutal. A demon shone from his eyes as he shouted loud enough for the soldiers to hear, “She’s mine!”
Grung snarled and yanked the dagger from his eye. Thick blood oozed from the socket. He acted like it was nothing as he climbed to his feet.
