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As I pulled my knife, the enormous lizard chittered and rose onto its hind legs, revealing its pale brown, scaled belly. When it thumped back onto all fours, it scrambled toward me, its claws churning up the ground. It would rip me apart in seconds and consume me just as quickly.
With a yelp, I ran down a hill and wove through a thick stand of trees, hoping it would need to slow its pace to follow.
Few outran a shayde. The memory of what the villagers brought home that day—the only remains of my parents—tracked through me, making my spine spasm. I needed to find a safe spot where I could defend myself; if my puny knife could be considered defense.
Bursting from the thick stand of trees, I raced along a narrow path cutting through deep grass, my ears trained behind me.
This was why two women were sent into the forest each year. They paid the price to keep the shaydes away. The creatures couldn’t climb the fortress walls, but they would hunt us relentlessly whenever we ventured outside the enclosure. Only the presence of the orcs kept them away.
My heart on fire, I raced into another patch of woods, my footsteps too loud on the fallen leaves strewn across the path. I struggled to hold on to my knife in my sweaty grip.
The shayde’s rank breath raked down my spine, and I whimpered. To think I’d feared becoming an orc’s mate only to be shredded by a beast like my parents instead. Poor Lyneth. This wasn’t fair to her or me.
Thuds rang out from my right. Another shayde? I’d heard they rarely hunted in packs. Reality and myth were leagues apart, however.
An orc burst from the trees and slammed toward me, a huge mace in his meaty hand. He thrust himself between me and the shayde, a growl ripping up his throat.
While I should keep running—after all, it was the orc’s job to protect the village from shaydes—I stopped, pressing my back against a tree as the orc rushed toward the shayde, his mace swinging.
The shayde leaped toward the orc, who moved much quicker than a large male such as him should be able to do. His mace impacted with the shayde’s head, driving the beast to the ground.
The shayde twitched and the red glow in its eyes extinguished.
With a grunt, the orc yanked his mace from the dead creature’s head. He pivoted toward me, his dark gaze appraising me in a way that made my skin quiver and my heart flounder.
Tightening my grip on my blade, I fled around the tree and ran from this new threat. He came after me, keeping pace much too easily with his long strides.
A glance back showed a scowl creasing his angular face. He coiled a thick finger my way, as if he thought I’d merrily twirl around and race over to him. Leap into his arms and allow him to tumble us to the floor of the forest where he’d claim me.
Why was my skin tingling at the thought?
Adrenaline, that’s what it was. I’d almost been killed by the shayde. My skin was aflame from fear, not desire.
And why was the pendant he wore made up of metal swirls glowing where it bounced on his chest?
I didn’t pause to gape long, but the impression of him sunk into my mind. Broad chest and huge shoulders. A narrow waist and thick thighs. Greenish-gold skin. He wore only a thick weapon’s wrap around his waist that dipped between his legs to barely cover his bulging groin.
His hair appeared streaked with berry, I thought inanely, as I rushed down a hill and slogged up another. By the time I reached the top, the hoarse wheeze of my lungs echoed around me. My heart thundered in my chest as if it planned to break through its cage and run until it reached the end of the world.
He still stalked me, and he’d drawn closer, moving only a footstep or two behind.
Hetoyedwith me.
Anger ripped through me, giving me the strength to keep going. I wouldn’t easily give into an orc’s unbridled lust.
With a grumble, he reached out, grabbing my arm in his meaty paw. He yanked me back against his muscular chest.
I gaped up at his dark eyes, gasping as I took in tusks the size of my thumbs jutting up from his jawline. One and a half times my size, this male towered over me. He’d crush me, destroy me with his claiming.
As I stared at him, unable to breathe, his cock shifted beneath his loincloth and pressed against my spine.
Wrenching free from his grip, I swung out at him with my knife. It sliced across his abs, though I only delivered a scratch.
Frowning, he looked down at the wound.
Turning, I bolted, whimpers escaping my trembling lips. He was going to kill me now, not claim me as his mate.
Before I could take one step, he tackled me, dragging me down to the ground. He rolled until I lay beneath him. Looming over me, he braced his enormous palms on either side of my shoulders. His glare cut through his chiseled features.
