Page 26 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

“I didn’t do anything, I—” Her words reached a crescendo before her scream shattered what little remained of me.

Another fell. The third whirled, barking a warning as he lunged.

“Keep the witch still,” one snarled.

The scent of their blood was thick in the air as the fourth abandoned his post to counter the threat at their back. Singed flesh filled my nostrils. The one with the iron turned his sadistic gaze on me, brandishing the glowing metal as Ceana sobbed uncontrollably.

The fourth hit the floor a beat before the fifth charged.

I wasn’t fast enough.

Not fast enough to meet his blows and defend against the sixth. Not fast enough to stop what was coming. Powered only by bloodlust and the inhuman monster clawing at my skin—fueled by the sound of her cries—I fought.

Fought even as my flesh burned. As a blade buried itself between my ribs.

Mortal agony was nothing compared to the eternal ache of her scream embedding itself in my skin.

When the last assailant crumpled, I staggered toward her. She was standing—barely—legs trembling beneath her shift. Livid red crisscrossed her chest.

The devil’s mark.

They’d branded my wife.

Ceana collapsed.

I went with her.

A grunt tore from my throat as we hit the ground together. She trembled violently in my arms, wracked with silent sobs, and I pulled her closer, trying—futilely—to shield her from what had already been done.

Her hands rose, her eyes going wide with terror.

“You’re bleeding,” she whispered.

I shook my head. “It’s nothing,” I assured her, though my vision was tunneling. Panting, I shook my head again. “‘M alright. You’re safe.”

I pressed a desperate kiss to her shaking lips, running my hands over her back, grounding myself in the reality of her presence.

She was here. She was real.

I’d endure anything to keep her safe.

I’d kill as many monsters as came calling.

The last thing I saw was her wide, frantic eyes searching mine, her hands reaching to slow my collapse.

Her mouth opened in a cry I couldn’t hear.

I couldn’t summon the words I owed her.

But I prayed she knew them as the darkness claimed me.

Thump-thump...

Alvara. Mouth open, eyes closed in ecstasy as I drove into her. The sound of her pleasure filling my mind...

…Empty emeralds in a face so bruised and swollen I could barely recognize her.

An animal sound ripped from my throat.