Page 73 of Soul Forge

“Stupid,” Reiner muttered again. “She may as well be dangling meat in front of a starving wolf.”

Julian moved to join the trio on the sidelines. “I hope he hits her hard enough to make her swallow teeth,” he grumbled.

Elda wrapped her arms around herself to hide the trembling in her hands, trying her best to ignore Julian’s enthusiastic exclamation when Lillian took an elbow to the chin. The fae spat blood into the grass, her smile gone.

Sypher fired off a punch that caught her right on the hinge of her jaw, snapping her head back so hard that she staggered, barely raising her arm in time to protect herself from a second right hook. Julian’s joyful holler echoed across the garden.

With a snarl, Lillian ducked low, jabbing her elbow towards Sypher’s stomach. He growled and brought a fist down between her shoulder blades, forcing her down to her knees. Unable to swing her sword, she chopped at the back of his leg with the edge of her hand, getting in a lucky shot. His knee buckled, and she launched herself at him, her legs uncoiling to smash into his ribs and drive him off his feet. The breath rushed from his lungs when she dropped all her weight onto him, straddling his hips and trying to get her katana at his throat.

“I remember this position,” she grinned, forcing the words through gritted teeth. “Fond memories before you upped and left me.”

Elda’s eyes widened. Around her, Gira sucked in a sharp breath, Reiner shook her head slowly, and Julian let out a low hiss.

Sypher bared his sharp incisors and gave up trying to protect his neck, red eyes blazing. He gripped her jaw tightly, ignoring the metal slicing into his skin. Elda’s whole body locked up, waiting for the spray of blood from a sliced artery, but Lillian faltered at his rage and gave him an opening. He crunched his forehead into her nose, yanking the katana from her hand when she toppled backwards. Elda watched him stand over her and lean down so Lillian could see the fire in his eyes.

Beside the princess, Reiner laughed softly. “Andthatis why he’s the Soul Forge.”

“I don’t know what insane shit is going on inside your head, but if you lie about what you did to me ever again, I will kill you,” he hissed, pointing the blade at her while she spat blood into the grass. “The Compulsion is gone, Lillian. I’m not bonded to you.I’m not yours.” He put a boot on her chest and pressed down hard enough to make her uncomfortable. “Don’t forget that.”

“I know you’re not mine,” she forced out, coughing under the weight of him. Her violet eyes flickered to Elda. “You’rehersnow. Same shit, different owner.”

“You’re right. I am hers.” He brought his face closer, putting more pressure on her lungs. Blood dripped steadily from the cut across his neck, several droplets landing on Lillian’s silver chest plate. “But I’m hers because Ichooseto be.” Her eyes narrowed when he stepped back and tossed her weapon into the dirt. “Stay out of my way.”

Elda stared, heart beating in her throat. He turned away from the prone wielder, ignoring Julian’s watchful eyes. The Soul Forge strode across the grass and stopped close enough that the princess had to tilt her head back to look up at him.

“Are you okay?” she croaked.

“I am.” He nodded. “Thanks to you.”

“You said you were mine.” The words echoed in her mind, a permanent, repetitive chime that confirmed she hadn’t just imagined it.

“I did.”

“What did it mean?”

“It means that even when your purpose is met, I’ll still be around to protect you. It’s the least I can do in exchange for my freedom.”

“You don’t owe me anything.”

He smiled, the expression stunning in the sunlight despite the blood on his skin. “I know. That’s exactly why I’m yours.”

He walked inside before she could respond, leaving her gawking after him in astounded silence. Heat flushed her cheeks, her heart rapping out a short staccato.I’m yours.No man had ever spoken to her that way.

Reiner looked between her and the direction Sypher had walked in, a ridge forming between her dark brows.

“Jeez, Princess,” Julian muttered. “I think you broke him.”

“...What just happened?” Elda squeaked.

“You tell me. I’ve never seen him act like that,” the vampire shrugged.

Lillian got up and stormed in the opposite direction, one hand pressed to her face to staunch the blood flowing from her nose.

“She’s going to be adelightafter this,” Gira noted, watching her stomp away.

“I’m glad he finally told her to shut her trap,” Julian decided, scowling after her. “She’s been lying about him for years.”

Reiner’s head tilted, the corners of her mouth turned down. “And he let her?”

---