Page 40 of Surrendered to Mate

I blink, focusing on the face above me. It's a woman – no, a vrakken. Her ice-blue eyes blaze with fury, her lips pulled back in a snarl.

"Where is he?" she hisses, her grip tightening.

I claw at her hand, gasping for air. "Who-"

"Don't play dumb, you filthy human," she spits. "Cassius. Where is he?"

My mind races. Who is this woman?

I struggle against her grip, but she's impossibly strong. Black spots dance at the edge of my vision.

"He's... gone," I choke out.

Her eyes narrow. "Gone where?"

I don't answer, focusing on trying to breathe. She loosens her grip slightly, allowing a trickle of air into my lungs.

"Listen here, you little bitch." She gets uncomfortable close to my neck. "I know you know who I am. Darana? Ring a bell?" I don't dare say a word, even though I have no idea who she is. "I don't know what you've gotten in your head, but Cassius is mine. He will be my mate."

My stomach twists and sours. Does he have… a girlfriend? A mate?

What the fuck is happening?

"Tell me where he is," Darana demands, "or I'll bleed you dry right here."

I glare up at her, defiant despite the fear coursing through me. "Get the fuck off me."

She snarls, revealing gleaming fangs. "Wrong answer."

Darana's head dips towards my neck, and I brace myself for the pain of her bite. But just before her teeth touch my skin, she freezes.

Her head snaps up, nostrils flaring as she scents the air. Her eyes widen, then narrow dangerously as they lock onto mine.

"You reek of him," she growls. "He fed from you."

The rage in her eyes intensifies, and I know I'm in serious trouble. Her grip on my throat tightens again, cutting off my air completely.

"You think you can take him from me?" Darana hisses. "He's mine."

I thrash beneath her, desperately searching for a way out. My vision starts to darken at the edges, black spots dancing before my eyes. I can't breathe. Can't think. The pressure on my throat is unbearable, and panic claws at my chest. This can't be how it ends.

My survival instincts kick in, adrenaline surging through my veins like liquid fire. With a burst of strength I didn't know I had, I buck my hips and twist violently, catching Darana off guard.

Her grip loosens for just a second, but it's enough. I manage to fling her off me, her nails raking across my skin as she goes flying. I scramble to my feet as she lands in the sand with a dull thud, gasping for air and fighting the urge to collapse. My legs feel like jelly, but I force myself to stay upright, every muscle tense and ready to fight or flee.

My heart pounds in my chest, threatening to burst through my ribcage. The taste of copper floods my mouth, and I realize I've bitten my tongue in the struggle. I spit blood onto the sand, my eyes never leaving Darana's crumpled form.

She's already starting to stir, and I know I don't have long before she's back on her feet. The wounds from her nails burn across my skin, but I push the pain aside. I've survived worse, and I'll be damned if I let this crazy bitch take me down now.

I watch as Darana rises, her movements fluid and predatory. Her ice-blue eyes lock onto mine, burning with a hatred so intense it makes my skin crawl. I shift my stance, ready to dodge or strike as needed.

"You little whore," she hisses, her voice dripping with venom. "I'm going to tear you apart."

She lunges at me, impossibly fast. I barely manage to duck under her outstretched arms, feeling the rush of air as her claws swipe inches from my face. I pivot, driving my elbow into her ribs as she passes. The impact jars my arm, like hitting solid stone.

Darana whirls around, snarling. Her hand shoots out, grabbing a fistful of my hair. Pain explodes across my scalp as she yanks me towards her. I cry out, stumbling forward.

Her other hand comes up, aiming for my throat. Panic surges through me, and I react on pure instinct. I drive my knee up, catching her in the stomach. It's like kicking a wall, but it's enough to make her loosen her grip.

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