Page 55 of The Wolf in My Tavern

“Betsy, get away while you can,” I say. “Get help.”

“I won’t leave you,” she says, her voice breaking.

Gray releases the girl into Drake’s care and turns all his focus upon me. Pinning my wrists at the small of my back, he locks a hand around my throat. The look on his face is fierce but also intent. His eyes are extra bright and blue and seem to swirl with dark emotions.

My traitorous body responds. He knows, the faintest lifting of his lips telling me he scents me.

He raises his head and stares over my shoulder, pinning Betsy with a look.

I gasp as his claws spring from his fingertips to prick the skin of my throat.

“Go on your way, Betsy,” he says. “Lest you want to see me rip this sweet lass’s throat out and leave her bleeding on the floor, you will not fucking interfere.”

My heart is hammering. I don’t want to believe he would, yet I also fear that he might.

Gray’s smile is very sinister as he turns it upon me.

I tremble. He could rip my throat out in an instant. I have seen what those claws can do.

“Tell your friend to go, lass. Tell her to go now.”

“Please go, Betsy. Please. I cannot bear for you to be hurt, too. You cannot help me. You know it. All you will do is put yourself in danger. If you go, you can let,” I must swallow past the sudden lump in my throat “Callum know.”

I hear Betsy sob and the clatter as she drops the wood. “I will get help, Ada. They will not get away with this.” Her rapid footfall fades away.

The claws collaring my throat retract before a human thumb brushes with fake tenderness over my chin.

“We need to go,” Drake says gruffly. “Now, before we draw any more fucking attention.”

Gray hoists me over his shoulder and takes off at a run, using the back alleyways and a route he appears familiar with. We leave the city center behind, heading toward the slums and poorest areas where the lesser ships and boats dock. Here, I am gagged, bound, and bundled into a longboat with the lad and the lass.

Six strong men row us out to where a mighty galleon is anchored not far from the shore.

Chapter Twenty

Callum

Istayed away last night, thinking it was for the best. The wedding is almost upon us. I told myself I could wait this short time until we could be together as a man and a wife and that I wouldn’t take her in a barn ever again… unless it was for nostalgia’s sake.

I would definitely be congenial to that once I have had my fill of the other kind of fucking, which takes place in the comfort of a bed.

So last night I worked late with my father in the workshop because the quicker this job is done, the quicker I can spend time with my wife.

Wife.

A few months ago, I had no desire for marriage, nor could I have imagined how much joy these anticipated changes would bring.

Thankfully, the hard work has paid off, and the large commission of swords is complete.

It is now mid-morning, and the customer arrives with a cart into which they load up all their goods.

The merchant shakes hands with my father and parts with the agreed coins. As the cart lumbers away, Anders turns up at the workshop doors.

“There was trouble last night,” he says. “I thought you might want to know.”

I lift my head as my father goes over to speak to him.

“What sort of trouble?” my pa asks.

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