Page 87 of Under the Lion Star

Still looking directly at me, he began to move backward. Through the air, he flew until his feet hit the far wall, and he fell onto his stomach. Leor stood over him, his body growing with each ragged breath. The king set his foot on the man’s neck while Orin jumped onto his back, keeping his limbs pinned.

“You alright?” Leor asked me.

I nodded, holding the knife out for him. He plucked it from my hand, a gentle expression softening his features, but a tense rage still gripped his body. Turning back to the man, he tossed the dagger between his hands, skulking slowly toward where his brother kept the intruder locked down.

“I’ll tell you anything you want,” the shadowed figure rushed out, grunting as he tried to fight against Orin’s hold.

“Unfortunately,” Leor tilted his head, crouching before the man and tapping the blade against his chin. “Your death is all but guaranteed tonight.”

“I can give you information,” the stranger pleaded. “Anything.”

Leor dropped his head with an annoyed sigh. “You see that woman over there?” He pointed the blade at me. “That’s my wife. And you touched her.”

The main let out a whimper, his eyes meeting mine and begging me to intervene on his behalf. Sitting on the floor, I had yet to move as I watched the scene play out, every part of my body trembling.

“You touched my wife!” Leor roared. “And you think there is a realm that exists where I would show you even an ounce of mercy?”

“P-Please,” he stammered. “I’ll tell you anything.”

“You won’t,” Leor shook his head, the calm returning to his voice.

He nodded to Orin, who stepped off the elf. Leor rolled him over, sitting atop his chest and grinning down at the man with a maliciousness that I had yet to see from my husband. He leaned in close, their noses nearly touching as Leor whispered something quietly. With a blank expression, he sank the blade into the side of the man’s neck, moving his wrist and flicking the knife in what appeared to be a practiced motion.

Leor stood, kicking the man onto his stomach with his foot and casually wiping the dagger on the back of his tunic.

The stranger clawed at the floor, his eyes wide and focused on mine. His strangled breaths were marked with a bubbling gurgle. Blood poured from his mouth and nose while his face turned red and his lips blue.

He’s drowning. My eyes went wide. He’s drowning in his own blood.

After what felt like an eternity, the man fell limp, his eyes still open and fixated on where I sat. The light behind his gaze faded, and the blood pool beneath him grew, spreading across the floor.

My eyes drifted up to Orin and then to Leor, both of whom seemed utterly indifferent to what had just transpired. Strength returned to my limbs, and I scrambled backward, trying to distance myself from the corpse on my bedroom floor.

“No,” Leor dashed over to me, crouching before me and blocking out the gruesome view.

All I could do was stare at him, my jaw hanging open.

“No, Z,” he pleaded. “Don’t be afraid of me. Never me.”

His thumbs coasted over my cheek. I tried to swallow, but my mouth was too dry. Flashes of the man choking to death on his own blood assaulted me.

“I’m a broken man, Zialda,” he whispered. “But I would never hurt you. Do you understand? I would sooner slit my own throat than cause you an iota of pain.”

“I’m not scared of you,” I breathed.

Leor let out a strangled breath, pressing his forehead to mine and closing his eyes. I tried to find the words to explain that I didn’t fear him but that watching a man die was not something I was used to. Although, if I kept hanging around him, it seemed like something I would learn to tolerate. It was a shock to see, but it was Leor. I knew him. I loved him.

Well, shit.

“I shouldn’t have done that in front of you,” he dusted his lips across mine. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m okay,” I assured him.

“You could have killed him,” Leor smiled. “I didn’t want you to have that on your hands.”

He studied my palms and fingers carefully, his anger returning as he ran his fingertips over my broken nails and the damage sustained when I had clawed at my attacker.

“You fought hard,” he whispered reverently. “You continue to amaze me.”

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