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Tannethe’s face turned red with rage and she stepped closer to me, her hand balled into a fist. “You think you’re so special? You’re nothing more than a common whore!”
I laughed in her face. “You’re callingmea whore? Seriously? After you’ve been out here acting like a bitch in heat?”
Tannethe’s eyes widened with surprise and then narrowed in rage. “How dare you!” she snarled, lunging at me again. I dodged out of the way, but her fingernails scraped the side of my face, leaving a long, stinging scratch on my cheek.
I touched my cheek, seeing blood on my fingers. She used my moment of distraction to lunge at me. My instincts took over, and I attacked, my strikes landing hard on her jaw and ribs. She stumbled back in shock, her hand flying to her mouth before I was on her again, striking her with my fists. Tannethe fought back, so she had some training, but it couldn’t stand up to years of scraping for survival. She wasn’t the only cause of my rage, but she’d become my target.
“Stop! You fucking bitch!”
Something glinted in the light as Tannethe tried to ward me off, holding her hands in front of her face as I pummeled her. A ring on her finger. It wasn’t just any ring—it was a poison ring, used by assassins to slip their victims a lethal dose. I had to get it away from her before it was too late.
I yanked her hand towards me and grasped the ring, pulling it off her finger as hard as I could. Someone grabbed hold of my arms and dragged me back, preventing me from doing any more damage. Tannethe scrambled to her feet, her eyes blazing with fury and hatred for daring to defeat her.
She slapped me across my wounded cheek, the sound ringing over the night, and I sneered at her, spitting in her face.
“Is that all you got?”
Theron was there, ripping me away from Theodas’s grasping hands and pushing Tannethe back, shielding me from harm. She advanced again, her eyes already swelling shut, her mouth and chin coated in blood from her broken nose. The heat of battle faded as I looked around to see a gathering crowd, their eyes narrowed in suspicion on me. Fuck. My instincts had taken over. I hadn’t thought about the repercussions of besting an elf in combat.
“Don’t,” he growled, his eyes flooded in dangerous black. “Touch her again, and I’ll kill you.”
Tannethe stepped back and glared at him before turning and walking away without another word. I watched her go, my fingers still secure around the poison ring. My lips stung, and my cheek burned with pain, but I didn’t care. I relished the sharp taste of iron in the air. If I was going to die, at least I’d take a piece of that bitch with me.
Theodas stepped in then, his expression dangerous. “You’re going to pay for this,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “I expected more from you.” He snapped at Tannethe as he joined her, throwing a dark look my way.
“Brilliant, Theron.” Xadrian chuckled next to me as the Vennorin brothers disappeared after their sister. “A concubine and a bodyguard,” he announced to the gathering crowd as he looked me over. “No wonder you bring her everywhere.”
What? Why was he trying to cover for me? I eyed him warily, even as gratitude filled me. Perhaps I’d still get out of this alive.
Theron glared at him, and Xadrian tilted his head toward the high table, where the emperor watched intently. His eyes flooded black as he nodded once to Xadrian.
Theron’s mother observed us, a calculating expression on her face, her eyes never leaving me. I had revealed myself—no longer just a concubine, but a threat. Someone who could protect and defend herself if needed. Whispers and hushed discussions hung in the air as if they floated in the mist. Theron’s mother spoke rapidly to Rhazien, who eyed me like a hungry lobaros. There were too many people, too much color and noise, flickering lights and fire, faces and eyes watching me, every single eye on me. I felt more exposed than even when I was on stage at the Colosseum.
Theron took my arm and led me away through the banquet hall, his grip tight as if he were afraid I’d disappear if he let go of me. I was a puppet, a slave to their bidding once again. I yanked my arm out of his grasp and he snarled at me, his eyes still two pools of night.
In one swift move, he scooped me up over his shoulder and carried me back to our suite without a word. I struggled against him as he stalked down the corridors, my heart racing with fear at what might happen next, and he smacked my ass with a ringing slap that echoed in the stone halls.
“Put me down, you sharp-eared bastard!” I shouted as we entered his suite and he slammed the door behind him, setting me down on the floor.
“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice dark and dangerous as he stalked toward me.
Chapter 23
Kael
“Whoareyou?”Hedemanded. “What are you doing here? What do you want from me?” His voice rang out in the empty suite, echoing off the walls and onto the marble floor.
I stayed silent, frozen in place like an animal caught in a trap. I didn’t trust myself to speak—words had betrayed me once before, and I was afraid of what might come out if I opened my mouth now. Anger flashed over Theron’s face and he stepped closer, his breathing heavy with rage.
“Answer me,” he commanded.
I swallowed hard and looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
“You’re not going to speak?” His voice was low and dangerous. He took another step forward, reaching out and grasping my wrists. “Then let’s see how well you can fight.”
My heart raced as he pulled me closer, our bodies pressing together until I could feel the heat coming off of him in waves. I tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go—he had me pinned against the wall with no escape. He grabbed my wrists in one hand, squeezing hard enough that my bones ground against each other, and used his other hand to grab my chin, forcing me to look into his face.
“I’m going to fuck you,” he growled, his eyes were two black voids as he glared at me. “Unless you stop me.”
