AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, but I’ll take some sparring or even bedding some females at least, or males if you’re into that.”
I look away for a moment, and he tilts his head. “What’s wrong? You’re acting shifty, more so than normal.”
“No, I’m not,” I snap.
“Brother, I’ve known you since we were kids. You can’t lie to me, you never could. You make a good leader and a great friend, but you are a shitty bad guy.” He grins, but it fades when I just stare. “What is it?”
I sense his worry, and guilt eats away at me for lying to my brother. “Nothing, I’m just tired.”
“Lie,” he retorts, and I snarl, hating he has that ability over me, although the same goes for him. Something is clearly bothering my friend, but I haven’t even asked, too worried about Tally. I’m a bad friend and a bad leader, but they have others to protect them while she only has me, so I’ll be selfish for a little bit.
“Cato,” he demands, “what’s going on?”
I don’t know how to answer, I don’t want to lie to my friend, but he has enough reasons to hate humans and I know he would hate Talia. He would kill her to protect my people, and just the thought almost makes me see red.
“Cato?” he questions, stepping closer. He eyes me warily, looking for signs of what’s going on. The reason why he is so good at protecting our people is because he’s very observant, but not even the dumbest monster could miss what happens next.
Talia sneezes. It’s a small, cute sound, but it may as well be a declaration of guilt for how loudly it shatters the silence.
His eyes go to the curtain, turning red as he races over and rips it away to expose Talia. He snarls, grabbing her by the hair and hauling her out. “A human, brother. Look what I found.” He obviously thinks I didn’t know she was there or I don’t know her, because he throws her to the ground, getting ready to kill or attack her. Watching her curl into a ball, her face scrunched in terror, has me doing something I never would have contemplated before—I attack him, tackling him to the ground.
His expression changes into one of shock as he stares up at me, the pain racing through his eyes chased by anger. He roars as he throws me away, turning to me with betrayed, accusing eyes. “Brother.”
“Leave her,” I demand. “That’s an order.”
“She’s a human!” he spits before charging me. I deflect and knock him back, and we quickly descend into a full-on fight, our horns clashing as we slash our claws at each other. We are on even footing since we trained together, but then I manage to pin him, my worry for her making me stronger.
The haze has almost taken over, but I manage to push it back slightly so I can snarl out, “She is mine!”
He freezes below me, his eyes wide. “Cato—”
“She is mine!” I roar, the haze lacing my voice. “You will not touch her!” I pound my fists into the ground on either side of his head, cracking the concrete as he watches me warily.
“You would kill your brother over a human?” he asks softly, sounding so hurt and small, like when we were kids.
It pushes the haze further back, and I sit up, throwing him a glare. “No, but if you try to harm her again…” I trail off before turning to her. She’s on her knees with her hand in front of her mouth. “Tally, are you okay?”
She hiccups out, “Yes,” before rising to her feet and coming to me. Collecting her in my arms, I swing her up and bury my head into her neck, settling my fear with her scent.
I nearly lost her.
I nearly lost her.
The haze surrounds me again, and I tighten my grip on her, needing her close. I slide my hands over every inch of her body to check for injuries.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry, Cato,” she mumbles over and over.
“Shush, Tally, it’s okay,” I murmur, kissing her hair. With her head cradled in my palm and her legs wrapped around my waist, I turn to my brother, who watches me with dawning horror and disgust.
“You have made a big fucking mistake, Cato,” he snarls, and I know he’s right—not only did I harbour a human, but I attacked a brother, a member of my tribe, to protect her.
Stepping back, he eyes me like a stranger, and that drives the knife right into my heart. “Brother, I—”
“You will answer to the tribe for your crimes,” he snarls, his nostrils flaring as he looks at Talia in my arms. “And the human will as well.”
FIFTEEN
TALIA
