Page 31 of In Love With the Leshy

“I had no idea you were so desperate to get fucked that you’d beg a monster to hump you.”

“Nikolai!” I shriek.

My hulking giant rolls off me like a clumsy clod, stumbling as he gets to his feet.

“Fang!” Em calls, but his voice isn’t as loud or strong as usual.

“You really should feed your dogs better,” Nikolai smirks. “They’re more than happy to take treats from strangers.”

Grabbing my dress off the floor, I struggle to break free of my viney restraints so I can throw it on. I scramble out of the way as Em lunges toward Nikolai. Taunting my Leshy, Nikolai moves fast and dodges him. I gasp, bringing my hands to my mouth when I see the knife stuck in Em’s back. Blue liquid trickles out of his wound. He leaps toward Masha’s brother once again. Nikolai evades and spins behind Em, getting his hand on the blade and twisting it. Em drops to his knees and wails in pain.

I shudder as I look around the room, searching for something I can use as a weapon. Before I find anything I’m strong enough to lift, Nikolai has me pinned against a wall and spins me around so that my back is to his front, and I’m helpless.

“Thanks for making this so easy,” he says, placing my still-tied wrists in one of his strong hands and kicking my legs out so that they are spread wide. “You’re too pretty to fuck animals,” he says, rushing to open his pants with his free hand. “Not when you have a real man here ready and willing to stick his dick in you.” “Stop!” I shout as I feel the head of his cock seeking my entrance. “No!”

“Shut up and take it.” He orders, spreading my folds and biting my shoulder until I yelp in pain.

Before Nikolai can penetrate me, I hear the thud of Em’s heavy footsteps as he rushes toward us, knocking both my attacker and himself to the ground. I shake in fear as I watch them struggle. I fight to separate my trembling hands from the restraint holding them. Finally breaking free, I grab my dress and slip it on as the two grapple. I look around for something to use to help Em as Nikolai sputters foreign-sounding words.

Howling in pain, Em extends vines from his fingers and wraps them around Nikolai’s arms, legs, and mouth. Spider-Man has nothing on my Leshy. Once Nikolai is restrained, Em stands to his full height. Only his back is visible, but I can tell he’s hurt worse than he’s letting on. His skin is gone. Disintegrated. Brown bark is left in its wake. I wonder if this is a result of his injury.

“Em,” I call, worried that he’s seriously hurt.

He ignores me, lifting Nikolai over his shoulder. I rush over and reach for his arm.

“Em, you’re hurt.”

He tries to shake me off, but I don’t let go; I struggle to turn him around, but he’s unmovable. I rush in front of him and stop cold, gasping for air.

The handsome face I’m accustomed to is gone. In its place is a skinless, eyeless skull that looks more animal than human. His nose and right ear are missing. The brown antlers poking out from the top of his skull are four times larger than they were before this transformation.

He speaks, but I can’t understand the jumble of sound coming out of him. I’m paralyzed. Em looks at me and points to the mattress, then turns and leaves, carrying Nikolai over his shoulder. I fall to the ground as the earth rumbles with each step he takes.

I need to get out of here, but it’s not safe to leave. I can’t possibly stay here, either. Not with that thing, that monster, touching me and kissing me. That monster I lay beneath naked, begging to feel him inside me. Thank God we didn’t have sex. Shame mushrooms inside me. Worse than that is the spike of betrayal twisting in my heart.

My head spins. My stomach lurches. Feeling sick, I need air. Slowly, as if something will jump out and attack me if I move too fast, I head to the entrance of the cave. I don’t know which thought has my heart spiking with fear more, seeing Em devoid of humanity or Nikolai trying to rape me.

I freeze at the sight of Fang lying on his side, eyes open, breathing labored.

“Shit!” In the melee, he must have dragged himself inside.

A million thoughts race through my head. I should leave him and run as fast as I can. Run and never look back. But not tonight. It’s too dangerous, and I don’t know how far either of my adversaries will go. Even though he went through a terrifying transformation, I have a hard time believing that Em would hurt me. He’s done nothing to justify the fear I feel toward him. Nothing but help me in any way he could.

I glance down at Fang, struggling to breathe. Em already lost two close friends. If he loses Fang as well, it will be my fault. Because I led Nikolai here. No matter what Em looks like, he’s shown me nothing but kindness. Even hurt, he kept me safe and doesn’t deserve to lose anyone else he cares about.

I sigh, letting my shoulders fall in defeat. So much for running away before Em returns. I can’t leave. Not without trying to help the animal at my feet.

Chapter 15

“Here you go, boy, here’s some brimberry jam.” I bring the bowl to Fang. He lifts his head half an inch off the floor before it falls back down. He’s too weak to eat out of the bowl, so I try to think of ways I might be able to get some of the healing food into him.

I run my fingers through my hair, afraid the wolf doesn’t have time to wait for Em to return and care for him. And that’s assuming Em will even be in any condition to help. Remembering the knife stuck in his back, my eyes water. He’s hurt and bleeding. Will the animals smell blood and attack? Will the scent of weakness encourage them to rebel against their master?

“Okay, boy,” I say to Fang, tentatively stroking his soft fur. “I’m going to figure out a way to get this into you, and you’ll feel better in the morning.

Hope springs up after another glance around the room. My mattress is made of leaves. I can use the leaves to scoop the jam. The best part is that leaves retain water, so it’s fine if he bites the leaf or even eats the whole thing.

“I’ll be right back.”

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