Page 4 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

Once I’ve finished, I give his arm a pat and turn to the rest of his troop. “You should get him to a physician, I’m not well-versed in healing and I’d hate for him to lose any more of his arm than he already has.”

The ass-grabber lets out a pained whine while the rest of the men all scurry to gather him up and escort him out into the night. I roll my eyes, then let my gaze fall back to the floor. Picking up the man’s severed hand, I also happen to see the dagger used to remove it sticking up out of the floorboards under the table.

Glancing over my shoulder to make sure Kelv isn’t watching, I slip the intricately detailed blade under the straps of my boots. Never hurts to have a spare, all of my weapons are currently stashed out of sight back in my shit room upstairs. And this one is nice enough it would fetch a decent amount of gold, if necessary. Grinning to myself, I gather up the remains of the med kit and the few bloody towels I’d used and return them to the bar.

“Well, look at that,” Kelv purrs, lips twisting into a smile even more sinister than the men at the table’s had been. “You sure can handle yaself, can’t ya.”

Looking away to hide my disgusted grimace, I mutter, “Someone else threw the blade, I never touched him.”

“That so.” His lecherous tone makes my skin crawl and my stomach curdle. Even more so when he lowers his voice further and adds, “Still, I would’ve loved to see how you’d have handled him yourself. Bet ya woulda put on a good show, wouldn’t ya, Mariane?”

My breath catches as icy tendrils of fear shoot down my spine. He knows.

Hoping to keep my reaction from being obvious, I tilt my head in mock confusion. “Kelv, were you perhaps injured as well? My name is Scarlet.”

“Sure it is.” He gives me an exaggerated wink, then reaches out and tucks a loose lock of hair behind my ear. “Don’t you worry, your little secret’s safe with me.” Grubby fingers slowly trail down the side of my neck. “Like I said, I enjoy having a pretty thing like you around.”

His hand starts to veer towards my chest, but I force myself to remain still and ask, “Shall I assume your silence comes at a price?”

Now toying with the low collar of my shirt, the sick fuck chuckles. “Perhaps…but I’m sure it’s one you won’t mind paying.”

Oh, I most certainly would mind, and have no intentions to do so.

Careful not to sound as offended as I am, I mutter, “Kelv… I’ve had a bit of a rough night, as you saw.” Giving him a pleading look, I reach up and grab his hand. “Would you mind if I retired early? So I can make sure I’m more…energized tomorrow night?”

I attempt to give him a coy smile, but I’m unsure if I manage or not. Since I’m too busy trying not to vomit, and all.

He nods, brushing his thumb back and forth across the back of my knuckles. “Ye. Sure thing, Scar. Wouldn’t want you tiring yourself out too much, now would we?”

Words have become impossible, so I simply shake my head. All of the hairs on the back of my neck are starting to rise and if I don’t get away from him soon… Well, I’m unwilling to share any more secrets of mine with scum like him.

Kelv leans down and presses a kiss to the back of my hand before slipping his hand free from between mine. Smiling that same sick smile, he tips his head towards the staircase.

I don’t wait to be told twice. Brushing past the few patrons between me and my freedom, I rush to the stairs and begin ascending them. To my annoyance, the sound of heavy footfalls trail after me. Doing my best to control my inner beast, I continue in the direction of my borrowed room, hoping I’m wrong about the events I fear are about to transpire.

Sadly, I’m not.

Right as I begin turning the knob on my door, two large arms wrap around me from behind. One hand slips down the front of my shirt, squeezing my breast while the other begins tugging at my skirt. Coarse hair scratches the side of my neck as Kelv begins mauling me with his mouth as well.

While he’s distracted, I shove the door open.

Seeing it as further invitation, he presses himself harder against my back, forcing me to step through the doorway. I curse under my breath upon realizing there’s no way to get to my swords with him pawing at me the way he is. Yet, the gods smile on me when his calf brushes against mine, reminding me of the dagger stashed in my boot straps.

Grinning to myself, I let out an incredibly fake moan. “I’d thought we agreed we were going to wait ‘til tomorrow night?”

He groans, licking me behind my ear. “Oh, don’t play coy. I know what all that was. Damn tease, ya are.”

Rolling my eyes, I force a breathy whine out from between my lips. “Good catch. I’ve been dreaming of tasting you since the first night we met…” Tilting my head, I glance at him over my shoulder. “May I? Please?”

To my extreme disgust, Kelv takes the opportunity to press his lips against mine. Shifting his grip to my hips, he forces me to spin around to face him. “Aye, I’ve been dying ta know what that mouth of yours can do.” Shoving me to my knees, he undoes the tie at his trousers, his erection now staring me in the face. “Now, hop to it, eh. Earn the secrecy you’re so desperate for.”

“Your wish is my command.” As the last word leaves my lips, I remove the stranger’s dagger from my boot and, in one swift motion, add Kelv’s cock to the list of body parts it’s responsible for severing.

His eyes widen in a frankly quite hilarious way as he stumbles back a step. And then another. Letting out a high pitched whimper, he cups both hands over his missing manhood and falls to his own knees.

With the first real smile I’ve had in a long time, I rise off mine.

I shake my head, tapping the bloody dagger against my palm. “It’s a shame, Kelv. I really thought I’d found a decent place to lay low for a bit.” He lets out another whine when I take a step towards him. “But, no. You just had to go and get nosey.” I take another step, effectively closing the distance he’d put between us. “And even worse, you got handsy.”