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“No, I will never come with you. I will slit my own throat first,” I admit and he grins before leaning in, his lips touching mine.

“I was hoping you would say that, pet.” He kisses me hard, biting my lip as he goes, and blood explodes in my mouth. I yank my head away, ripping from his grip, and pant as blood drops down my bruised chin onto my chest.

With his eyes on me, he talks to his men. “Bring me the dishonoured.”

I freeze when I hear the Berserkers jumping to do his bidding. He smiles at the anger running through me, and carries on, “Kill those insects at the Seeker compound.”

My heart stops as I stare at him in shock, he can’t mean my men…

How? We checked the whole compound for Berserkers, but I see the glee in his eyes.

He can get to them, I know it from that look alone.

I have to do something, I have to stop them, I have to protect them.

What will make him hesitate, what can I use against him?

I rack my brain, and when I finally form a plan, a peace settles in my chest like this was what was supposed to happen all along.

Grabbing my knife, I ignore the Berserkers as they all move to intercept me, obviously thinking I am going for Ivar.

“Do that and I will kill myself right now.” Holding the knife to my own throat I stare at him, showing him how serious I am.

I would slit my throat, I would do anything to protect them.

“Hmm, then what would you do. Your little pet would be bleeding out and it wouldn’t be by your hand.

You want me, you need me, so kill them and I will take that all away from you. ”

I can feel everyone holding their breath as I challenge Ivar, playing his own game.

I let him decide what he wants to do, it’s in his hands now.

Finally, his face turns red and he looks away.

“Ignore that order,” he spits out at his men and turns to me again.

“You are going to pay for that,” he says, and I nod, dropping the knife.

As soon as I do, he snaps his arm out and grabbing my head, smashes my face into the desk.

I hear my nose crunch and I can taste the copper tang of my own blood.

My ears ring and my head spins. I don’t even notice he has let go of my head until I push back and I raise my head.

Major is out of his seat and Nan is squaring up to a Berserker.

Doc and Vasilisy have weapons to two Berserkers and everyone is waiting to see what I will do.

It would be suicide to attack them now, and no matter what I said, I don’t want to die.

“I’m fine, sit down.” Major searches my face before sliding back into his seat. Nan grumbles but does the same, only Doc and Vasilisy ignore me. “Now!” I shout, noticing the other Berserkers inching their way over. Vasilisy sighs but does as he is told, but Doc tightens his grip on the Berserker .

“Doc,” I warn, and he flinches but doesn’t drop it.

“Evan!” I shout and I think it’s the shock of hearing his name that makes him step back and look at me.

“I’m okay, let him go.” I gesture at the Berserker and he releases him.

Turning back to Ivar, I ignore the agony ripping through my head and face him.

“Finished?” I ask, licking the blood trickling from my lips. He follows the movement, lust blooming in his eyes.

“For now.” He nods before looking back at the others. “Now, where were we?”

“Being mental, as usual,” Nan mutters, making me chuckle before I choke on my own blood.

I cough and sputter and only when Major leans across and smashes my back, do I spit out the blood on the once pristine table. “Thanks,” I mutter hoarsely.

“You okay, kid?” he asks quietly.

I nod and look at him from under my lashes. “Stay quiet, don’t antagonise him. We both know how this ends. You can always come after me, but we need you alive,” I mutter and stop when a large fist smashes into the table under my face.

“What are we whispering about, pet?” Ivar asks.

“Nothin’,” I reply, reaching up and grimacing when I feel my bent nose.

Fucking great. It took weeks to heal last time, and it never set straight after it.

Taking a deep breath I grab both side and twist, I have to hold in a scream as it clicks back into place, but when it does it feels ten times better.

“Good, so I will get straight to the point. You know what I want, but I obviously need to remind the others who I am.” He taps his chin and I go cold, I know that look. “So, I think I can do both at the same time.”

He gets to his feet, his leather creaking as he moves and holds his hand out to the side.

He doesn’t even look, just expects it to happen, and it does.

A gun lands in the palm of his hand and he quickly checks it before flicking off the safety.

I rise slowly, and the others do the same.

Stepping back from the table we move in closer until we create a circle.

Rolling his eyes, Ivar rounds the table so there is nothing but air between us.

“Like I said, they must be reminded. I think killing one of them is fair enough, the others will soon scatter like the bugs they are and run back to their own little shit holes they call camps. I know who I want to kill, but the decision is yours pet.” He raises the gun and points it to Major, then swings it to Nan.

“Which one do I kill? They both offered me insult.”

I freeze and turn my eyes from him to them. Nan stands up straight, ready for whatever happens, and Major takes a deep breath, resignation settling in his gaze. No, no this can’t be happening. I can stop this. Grabbing the knife, I fumble with it to raise it to my throat.

“I don’t think so, pet, that might have worked once, but not again. You try to kill yourself and I will shoot them both then I will have my fun with your men.” The threat is real and I quickly drop the blade to the floor. “Good girl,” he purrs and I swallow hard, trying to think my way out of this.

“Decide, or I will. Who do I shoot?” he asks, his gun wavering between them both.

I shake my head, staring from it to them.

He gets tired “Fine. I will.” When the shot goes off, I jerk like it hit me, and I turn as if in slow motion.

I watch in dawning horror as a red patch blooms on Major’s chest. He blinks before looking down.

Chaos erupts, but all I do is stare as Ivar laughs.

Major’s mouth opens and closes before he stumbles forward.

Automatically, I dart towards him, just in time to catch him as he crumples to his knees.

Still numb, I lay him on his back and just stare.

“I’m sorry,” he gasps, blood bubbling on his lips as his breathing turns erratic and his face pales. I panic, fluttering my hands over him, not knowing what to do, my emotions coming back with a bang.

“I’m sorry,” I wheeze, turning to the room. “HELP HIM! I WILL DO ANYTHING!” I scream desperately until a cold hand lands on my arm, then I turn back to Major.

“It’s okay, you will be okay.” His voice is getting weaker, so I have to lean closer so no one else can hear us.

“I love you, Tazanna Worth, make them pay. Be the woman I know––know you can.” I sob as his breathing stops for a second.

His eyes unfocused and he looks over my shoulder like he doesn't even see me. “I’m coming, baby, I’m coming, Cara. ”

His body jerks a few times before he stops breathing, that horrible death rattle in his chest, until he is still, his eyes locked over my shoulder even as a smile twists his blood covered lips.

“No,” I whisper, before I let out a heartbroken scream, ragged and wordless.

It pours out of me and I can't seem to stop even as my arms are pulled back and I am dragged away.

I fight them to get back to him. “I need to save him, I can save him. I have to!” I punch, kick and claw until they release me and then I scramble back to him, no not him, his body, one that is already cooling. His lips are blue and his face blank.

“No!” I cry. “I need to…I have to…”

I am pulled away again and I sag in their arms as they drag me from Major’s body, roughly handling me, one thought ringing in my head.

I have to bury him, I have to offer him rights or he won't cross and see his daughter again.

It's what gets me fighting until I am nothing but an animal, biting, clawing, and attacking everything. My eyes widen too late as I see the pommel of the sword descending to my face. Something crunches, and I fall backwards as the room begins to darken. I fight with everything in me to keep myself here, there are things I need to do. Things I have to do. Major … It’s my last thought as I succumb to the blackness edging my vision and I welcome it, anything to get away from the crippling agony of losing the man I loved as a father.

“Little queen!” comes a scream, but it's so far away and I am so cold, I am so tired.