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“I don’t see why we’re doing this,” he whispered, looking around as if he expected something to come along and stop them. “She’s one woman. Is it really worth the risk?”

The man at the rear stepped closer so he could speak in a hushed tone. “Listen, lad, Bragg doesn’t ask for much. He doesn’t keep any coin, gives the best food to others, and takes care of us. All he wants is a woman and kids. I don’t think it’s much of an ask, considering he’s been butchering Demons for others his whole life.”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t–” A choke grunted out of him when his throat was grabbed.

The troop carting her through the back end of the village moved on, while the two men stayed behind. She caught the first half of their conversation before the rest was lost to the distance between them.

“We’re leaving tomorrow,” the man grated down to the younger bandit. “We’ve had it with the villages in this area; they’re people who have been hardened by the mountain Demons. Her father is the worst of them, and Bragg wants to take her with us. So, you can complain all you like, but you’re either with us, or you’re fucking dead. Pick one, because–”

When they reached the wall next to the mountain cliff, they halted. One of the wooden stakes protecting the village groaned and creaked as it tipped forward, and Linh realised they’d removed nails and bolts so it would move like a hinge. The gap was narrow. One bandit stepped through sideways, squeezinghis thick body past before they tossed her into his arms. The rest followed behind.

Her breaths only grew stronger so she could suffocate on them. Anxiety clawed when she couldn’t see the village gates from here; therefore, Nathair wouldn’t spot their escape.

Skittering in the distance only made her aware that she was out in the open, with six guards, and bleeding between her legs like a piece of bait. She resumed her kicking as the village began to fade from view.

Oh gods. Someone help me!

With a snarl, Nathair bashed on the town gate.

The day was late, and dusk shed its last light. Night crept over the horizon, proving another day had passed, and he was fucking done waiting.

Bring me that female, or I will obtain her.They should just be relieved that he wasknocking.

When no one answered, he embedded his claws into the thick, rough timber with his maw parting. His scales puffed and vibrated as he let out a resounding hiss.

A shout echoed over the distance from within the walls. A warning that he, the Duskwalker, themonster –as they kept calling him – was attempting to get inside. Any minute now, and there would be soldiers above, aiming their arrows at him.

The moment they released one, he’d break through this measly barrier and hunt for her.

Linh!he shouted within his mind.

Four days of waiting was enough. He’d been patient. He’d been a good male. He let her heal, and rest, and be with her people. Now, he wanted her attention, her affection, a fuckingcuddle if she was willing. He wanted kisses on the cool bone of his skull, and soft hands admiring his scales.

Fuck. He just wanted that female any way he could have her right now. Even just the sight of her in his lonely gaze would be welcome.

His gut twisted, yet it was his heart which felt greedy. He shook as he held back his annoyance and rage, his flesh itching with the loss of her essence that acted like a balm against his own. His fins raised and quivered as he tried not to let his guilt overcome him – he was beginning to fear they were right. That... this female no longer wanted him and was just waiting to release a breath of relief when he turned away.

A lung-seizing whine rattled his chest, and he placed his forehead and horns against the door.Please. Please don’t abandon me, not when I have just found you.He didn’t want the words from the soldiers to be true.

He bashed again with renewed anger, this time with a roar as his orbs reddened.Come out here and face me!

She incited desire.Shewas the one to instigate touch, and coaxed it from him until she’d envenomed him with her feminine wiles. She was the one who kissed him, pressed his cock to her pussy, fucking rode both his cocks until his mind almost blacked out in bliss.

I was patient.He let her lead, to show him what she wanted, so how dare she abandon him outside this wretched town when she’d woken up three days ago! Was he not deserving of a singular word? An explanation?

Another shout in the distance bombarded him, and Nathair bashed his forehead against the door this time.

So many voices. There are so many voices.Were they inside his mind or just beyond these walls? Was he about to slip into a fragment, or was he conscious with full clarity?

His insides squirmed when he didn’t have the answer.

He’d not seen a blue sky this day, and the world had felt colder with the lack of sun. He’d been able to scent the petrichor of the approaching rain, yet it was slow to arrive. He hadn’t wanted to be left in the dreaded, dreary cold by himself.

He choked, clutching his throat as he forced in a full breath, only to halt it at the perfume of fresh human blood in the air. It was light, but he heard screams now. Children, women, even men were wailing within the walls of this village.

Dark smoke lifted to the grey rain clouds.

Something is wrong.White entered his sight.Linh...