Page 12 of Kept By Her Obsessed Minotaurs

The image of Mara,half-naked and vulnerable, is seared into my mind's eye. The thought of Lazir's hands on her, claiming her, ignites a possessive fury within me that I can't ignore.

"She's a job," I tell myself fiercely, stopping to glare at the darkened forest. "You can't afford to forget that. Not again."

I draw in a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. My rational mind knows the truth—that getting involved with a human female again could spell disaster for all of us. But the primal part of me, the part that still remembers the softness of a woman's body against mine, refuses to be silenced.

The sharp, rhythmic scrape of steel on stone slices through the stillness of the night. Lazir sits on a nearby rock, his form bathed in the cold light of the moon, honing his blade with a focus that borders on meditative. The sight of him, so calm and collected, only fans the flames of my irritation.

I stomp toward him, my boots crunching on the gravel, each step echoing the pounding of my heart. "Did you touch her?" The question escapes my lips as a growl, my anger barely contained.

Lazir's hands pause, his eyes lifting to meet mine. There's a flicker of surprise in his gaze, quickly replaced by his usual nonchalance. "What are you talking about?" he asks.

My fists clench at my sides, the tendons in my neck straining as I struggle to maintain some semblance of control. "Mara. Did you fuck her? She's off-limits. This mission is not a damn joke!" I growl.

An infuriating grin spreads across Lazir's face. "Relax, Garron. I didn't touch her." His gaze holds a challenge, daring me to push further. "But even if I did... you don't make the rules here."

My anger surges, hot and wild. "She's dangerous! Keeping her close puts us all at risk." The words tumble out, clipped and desperate, betraying the fear that gnaws at my insides.

Lazir's smile withers,his eyes narrowing to slits. "You don't get to lecture me about risks," he retorts, his voice cold and cutting. "Or have you forgotten? Your little mistake cost us the clan."

His words strike deep, a painful reminder of the past I can't escape. The scar on my chest throbs, a bitter testament to my folly. I turn away, the taste of defeat bitter on my tongue. "There's a carcass inside," I mutter, my voice hollow. "Eat it if you want."

I'm about to storm off, to lose myself in the darkness of the forest, when Lazir's voice, tinged with an unexpected softness, reaches my ears. "We're a team, Garron. Like it or not. Eat with us. We need to stay strong."

I hesitate, my shoulders rigid with tension. With a deep, shuddering breath, I nod. I can't deny the truth in his words. We are a team, bound by shared exile and a desperate need for redemption.

The cave's entrance yawns wide, beckoning me back to the warmth within. The scent of roasting meat wafts out to greet me. My stomach growls, a reminder that despite the turmoil raging inside me, I am still bound by the needs of the flesh.

As I step into the cave, the sight before me makes my heart clench. Mara sits by the fire, her laughter mingling with Calo's, their faces alight with a camaraderie that feels like a betrayal.

I clench my fists, forcing my emotions down. She's a job, I remind myself. Nothing more.

And as much as I hate to admit it, we need her—her knowledge, her connections, her gold. For now, at least, she's our ticket back to the clan, back to the life we were forced to leave behind.

11

CALO

The sun hangs high in the sky, beating down on the endless expanse of the rolling plains, as we head westward toward the Murdok dark elf estate. I can feel its heat seeping through my cloak, but I don't mind. It's a stark contrast to the chill of the mountains we left behind. I glance over my shoulder at Mara, her small frame tucked behind me on the horse. She's trying to hide it, but the exhaustion is etched into the lines of her face.

"You okay?" I ask, my voice soft enough that it doesn't carry to the carriage where Garron sits, sullen and silent.

She nods, a weak smile playing on her lips. "Just a bit tired," she whispers softly.

I shift in my saddle, reaching back to adjust the blanket beneath her. "Lean against me," I instruct. "You'll conserve your energy that way."

She hesitates for a moment before her body relaxes into mine. I can feel the warmth of her through our clothes, and I force myself to focus on the road ahead. Garron's glare is like a branding iron, searing into my back, but I ignore it. He's angry, still reeling from our decision to trust Mara and her promisedtreasure. But what choice did we have? We need this job, and the gold she's offering is too good to pass up.

As the sun begins to dip toward the horizon, we find a small clearing to make camp. The air is cooler here, away from the open plains, and I watch as Mara rubs her arms, trying to ward off the chill.

"Here," I say, pulling a thicker blanket from my pack. I drape it over her shoulders, and she looks up at me with a grateful smile.

"Thank you, Calo," she murmurs.

I nod, turning away to gather firewood. I can feel Garron's eyes on me, but I pretend not to notice. Lazir is already at work, preparing the meat we stored from Garron's previous hunt. The scent of it roasting over the fire is enough to make my stomach growl.

As the night deepens, we gather around the fire. Mara sits next to me, her eyes reflecting the dancing flames. I can't help but watch her out of the corner of my eye, the way she moves, the way she tilts her head. She's different from any human I've known—stronger somehow. And yet, there's a fragility to her that calls to something primal within me.

I'm lost in my thoughts when Mara's soft voice stirs me from my reverie. "I wish I could bathe," she murmurs, half to herself, but my keen ears catch the quiet yearning in her tone.

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