Page 112 of When Roses Burn

“That’s because I don’t tolerate disobedience.”

“You don’t tolerate anything!”

“Stop talking,” Zephyr whispered as Knox used his body to force me backward.

I’d been determined not to lose ground to him, but I couldn’t help backing away as he pushed against me. His rage rattled my bones.

My heel connected with a tree, stopping my retreat. When Knox stepped closer, a slapping sound caught my attention, and my gaze fell to the cock swinging between his legs.

My eyes widened as I took in its substantial size. I knew exactly how big the man’s cock was, and it was large, but the beast’s was easily double its size and nearly brushed his knee. And it was so thick I didn’t know if I could wrap both hands around it.

“Do you like what you see?” he snarled.

My eyes shot back to his, and he released my wrist. My arm dropped as he slammed a hand against the tree beside my head. The tree rattled from the impact, and a few newly blooming leaves broke free. I felt sorry for the tree; it needed all the nourishment it could get, and Knox had just taken some from it.

“No, I don’t like what I see. I don’t like you like this at all!” I told him.

“Your mother certainly liked me like this.”

Nausea twisted in my belly at the reminder of what she’d done to him, but despite my apprehension and sorrow, ire also rose in me. “I’m not my mother. I’m nothing like her, and the fact you refuse to acknowledge that is… is….”

“Is what?” he demanded when I couldn’t find the word.

“It just proves what a fucking asshole you’ve become!” I declared. “You want to believe the worst of me because you’ve turned into the worst version of you!”

“Oh, shit,” Zephyr muttered.

Knox’s claws raked the tree, knocking some of the bark onto my shoulder and Gizzi. The small creature didn’t shake the debris free as he watched Knox. If Knox tried to harm me, Gizzi would attack, and I couldn’t have him, or Knox, getting hurt.

“I am what you helped make me,” he bit out.

“That’s not true. I never wanted any of this; I only wanted you. No, that’s not true either,” I said when I realized my mistake. “I only wanted Seth!”

Something flickered in his eyes as his lips skimmed further back on his snout. “And you’ll never have him again, but you’re not running anywhere.”

“Of course I’m not,” I retorted. “Why would I decide to run with only a basketful of mushrooms? Surely, I would have packed more food and been better prepared if I planned to run away.”

His gaze flicked to the basket lying on its side a few feet away. Most of the mushrooms had spilled from it.

“Would you have?” he inquired. “You were foolish enough to come beyond the wall without any weapons and only a sprite for protection. I’d guess anyone that stupid would be dumb enough to run while not fully prepared.”

I didn’t bother to tell him about the dagger I’d strapped to my waist and hidden beneath my coat. Not only was I going to keep the weapon a secret, but it would be useless against him, and he’d mock me for it. Gizzi was also a secret I’d keep to myself; I couldn’t lose my friend.

Besides, he had a point. This hadn’t been my best decision, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for whatever toppled those trees, but I’d never admit that to him.

“You’re not supposed to be beyond the wall,” he continued.

“The mushrooms will help the potion,” I reminded him.

“I don’t give a fuck!” His hot breath blew the hair back from my face. “You’re not supposed to be beyond the wall. You know that.”

It was then I realized that fear had propelled him into the forest after me. Not only was he afraid I’d left him, but he was petrified something or someone else would find me.

He’d never admit it, but he did still care for me… or maybe he planned something else for me. He did hate my mother after all.

CHAPTER SEVENTY

Briar