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The once cozy room now felt like a battlefield, the impending showdown hanging heavily in the air.
Aznai, sensing my unease, shifted subtly, positioning himself to intervene if needed.
I noted grimly that Onshev’s men did the same, theatmosphere crackling with a palpable undercurrent of confrontation.
But I wasn’t going to let it come to that.
I pushed away from the table, standing tall, my heart pounding in my chest.
I could feel the soft fabric of my shirt against my skin, a soothing sensation in the midst of the standoff. “I’m sorry, but my decision is final.”
With a final glance at Onshev, whose face had now morphed into a scowl, I turned to leave.
I could hear the rustling of the contract behind me, the soft murmur of voices rising into a crescendo of disbelief and indignation.
The pleasant tingle of freedom was abruptly ripped away from me when Onshev, quick as a striking serpent, whipped out a blaster pistol.
The other two creatures — Fli’at and the Silverback — leapt into action, their bulks creating an immovable barrier between me and the door.
My pulse quickened, beating a staccato rhythm in my ears as the harsh smell of the blaster’s cold metal filled the room.
I assessed the situation, my brain racing to find a viable solution.
I could see Aznai tense, his eyes locked onto Onshev, ready to spring into action.
But Madison was here too.
The risks were too high.
A wrong move could hurt her, and that was something I couldn’t allow.
Raising my hand in a silent command, I motioned for him to stand down.
I felt his confusion and reluctance, but he obeyed, stepping back, his gaze never leaving Onshev.
“Well,” Onshev smirked, his eyes glinting maliciously under the room’s stark lighting, “at least now we know where we all stand. Come now, sign the contract and this will all be over.”
I shook my head. “I’m not signing it.”
Onshev’s grin did not reach his eyes. “The price just doubled. You get the mine, the village, and I’ll throw in your freedom as a bonus. I can’t say fairer than that.”
When I refused once again, his accomplices closed in, their rough hands securing a firm grip on my arms.
Fli’at’s hands were cold, his grip tight, while the Silverback’s were warm, his fingers squeezing into my flesh.
The diverging sensations were a surreal reminder of my predicament.
“And between you and me,” Onshev said, sidling up close to me, his smirk now a wide grin. “We both know you can afford it. Youandyour family.”
I stiffened, my heart pounding against my ribs.
How could he know?
I had been careful, hadn’t I?
Yet, as his gaze bore into mine, it was clear he knew.
HeknewI was royalty, and he was more than willing to exploit it.
