Page 37 of Her Possessive Minotaurs

Before I can answer, a shout echoes through the trees. The guttural bellow of orcs calling my name. “Thalos! Show yourself, coward!”

My face darkens, grip tightening on my weapon. I step forward, chest rising and falling with barely-contained rage. “Stay back,” I tell Laia, my voice a low snarl.

The orcs emerge from the tree line, their armor gleaming with firelight. At their head, a hulking brute steps forward, a sneer twisting his scarred face. “Eryndor wants the girl,” he spits, pointing a jagged blade toward Laia. “Hand her over, and we spare your miserable lives.”

I laugh; the sound is cold and dangerous, echoing through the burning forest. “You’re nothing but a dark elf’s lackey now?” I taunt, stepping closer, my broad shoulders casting a shadow over the orc. “Is this what your honor has come to? Following his leash like a dog?”

The orc’s face twists in fury, his tusks bared in a snarl. “Enough! Hand her over, or we’ll burn your precious forest to the ground!”

My eyes flash with defiance. “Come and try,” I growl, raising my axe. “But know this—you’ll never touch her.”

The orc snarls a command, and the ground trembles as they charge. I roar, meeting them head-on, my axe cleaving through the first attacker like a blade through water. The battle begins.

The clash of steel rings out as we collide. Irix’s roar echoes beside me as he slams into an orc, his blade cutting through armor and flesh with savage precision. Kael stays close to Laia, his movements a dance of lethal grace as he deflects blows aimed at her.

An orc lunges at me, its eyes filled with bloodlust. I swing my axe in a brutal arc, the blade biting deep into its shoulder. It falls with a gurgled scream, but there’s no time to savor the victory. Another takes its place almost instantly.

As the fight continues, I can’t help but glance at Laia. She fights beside Kael, her dagger flashing in the firelight. She moves with surprising agility, ducking under wild swings and striking with precision. She’s learning—adapting to the chaos around her.

A massive orc barrels toward me, its axe raised high. I meet it head-on, our weapons clashing with bone-jarring force. The impact reverberates up my arms, but I hold firm, pushing back with all my strength.

“Is this all you’ve got?” I shout over the din of battle, my voice dripping with disdain.

The orc snarls, trying to overpower me, but I twist my grip and drive my axe into its gut. It crumples to the ground, and I pull my weapon free with a grunt.

Around me, the forest is a blur of fire and blood. We fight on, each strike fueled by determination and rage. We will not let these invaders take what is ours—not our home, not Laia.

I will make sure that Laia remains with us. With me. My enemies will pay the price if they try to take her away. Irix and Kael won’t let anything happen to her; so am I.

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27

KAEL

Orcs charge through the forest, their roars echoing off the trees. My heart pounds, a rhythm that matches the chaos around us. Laia stands beside me, eyes wide but fierce, ready to fight.

Without thinking, I grab her wrist. “You have to move,” I say, keeping my voice steady despite the storm brewing around us. “Now.”

She pulls back, determination flashing in her eyes. “I can fight, Kael?—”

“No.” The word slices through the air, sharper than any blade. “They’ll overpower you. You need to go. Now.” I point toward the waterfall in the distance. “There’s a cave behind the falls. It’s hidden. Stay there.”

Her jaw tightens, but she doesn’t argue further. She knows what’s at stake.

The orcs draw closer, their stench filling my nostrils. I push Laia toward the path leading to the falls. “Go!” I bark, more forcefully this time.

Laia hesitates, her heart thudding in her chest as the sounds of battle rage around us. “But what about you?—”

“I’ll come for you. I promise.” My eyes soften, but my tone leaves no room for argument. “You’ll distract me if you stay. Please. Trust me. I can’t fight properly if you’re here.”

Her breath catches, and for a moment, I see the conflict in her eyes. She wants to fight, to stand beside me, but she knows I’m right. With a final nod, her feet start moving, though it’s clear each step costs her.

She takes one last look at me, and I try to convey all the reassurance I can muster. Then she sprints into the darkness, her form vanishing among the shadows.

Turning back to face the orcs, my grip tightens on my axe. They’re close now, their wild eyes glinting with bloodlust. The first attacker lunges at me with a savage roar, his blade slicing through the air.

I meet him head-on, my axe swinging with brutal precision. The blade sinks deep into his chest, and blood sprays across my face. But there’s no time to dwell on it; another orc is already upon me.

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