Page 62 of Her Feral Beasts

Xander sighs dramatically because he gets the need I have to provide for her. Dragons hoard their wealth after all, and the gifts he’d give her would be gold and jewels, but he has too tight a claw on his dragon to do that.

“Don’t you feel bad?” Lyle asks quietly as I lie on the floor, letting my skin fire up. I deserve this punishment. “For hurting her? For pinning her down naked and forcing her to submit to you? She was crying, for God’s sake, Savage. You made her cry.”

My animus whines out loud and I know it’s true.We made Aurelia cry.

“We’ll see her cry more before this is done,” Xander says quietly.

Scythe doesn’t say anything because he probably agrees.

“This could send you back to Blackwater, Savage,” Lyle says to me. “I could have you put down with just a few words to the council.”

“I’d get out,” I shoot back, finally sitting up. “We know plenty of beasts in Blackwater.”

But Lyle gives me a wry smile. “So do I, Savage. So do I.” He brushes off a piece of lint from his suit and I can’t imagine how the hell he’d look in prison. He left Blackwater before I got there, so I never saw him. But he continues, “I could also make it so that Aurelia ends up in Blackwater, too.”

This motherfucker.

My eyes flick back up to his and we both know that he’s got me there. I wasn’t expecting Lyle to be as ruthless as us.

They’d ruin Aurelia in the federal penitentiary. As growly as she is, she’s soft and sweet as chocolate pudding on the inside. She’d be out of my grasp and I’d never be able to fulfil Mace Naga’s stupid blood covenant.

I’m surprised when Scythe interjects. “Her father won’t let that happen.”

“Ah, the Serpent King,” Lyle says, turning to look at Scythe. “He’s an interesting beast. Did you know he’s spent every day of the last week sending me subtle threats?” He rubs his jaw like he’s imagining the letters he’s received. “He’s kept her separate from him for half of her life and now he desperately wants her back? Why could that be?”

I know why. Aurelia has two forms. It’s unheard of. Impossible. Such a thing is a myth these days, but if anyone would know why, it’s Scythe. I glance at my blood-brother, but he’s looking straight ahead.

Any father in their right mind wouldn’t want her out of his sight. The thought of Mace Naga getting her back sends me spiralling with thoughts and images I can’t control. I charge at the electrified bars again.

I hit it like a battering ram and it throws me back ten times as hard. Xander swears under his breath.

“Stop,” Scythe commands.

I groan and flop onto my back, my skin on fire, my heart trying to tear out of my ribcage. “I’m going to kill you,” I say to Lyle.

He sighs. “Let me help you, Savage.”

“I don’t want your fucking help.”

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Lyle says to the three of us. “I’m not going to go to the authorities about this. I’m not going to send you back to jail, Savage. But what wearegoing to do is be honest with one another.” He turns. “Scythe.”

Lyle strides towards my brother’s cage, the big keys at his belt jangling. “I was under the impression we had an understanding.”

“This could get a lot worse for you, Lyle,” Scythe rasps.

To my surprise, Lyle sighs and says, “I know. That’s why we’re going to come to another agreement. In exchange for not reporting on you and having council executioners in here, you’re going to tell me why you all have made a blood covenant with the Serpent King. Don’t try and deny it because I’ve seen the serpent magic on your fingers and the markings are exactly the same. I’ve seen this type of magic in Blackwater.”

As I look at Lyle, I realise this bastardwillactually call for our execution. I can see that rabid beast lurking behind his eyes, calling for blood. He enjoys violence just as much as I do.

As I stare at the lion in realisation, my blood thrums with a single word, and I can only just hear Scythe’s low rasp as he talks.

Afterwards, Lyle exhales deeply. “You needn’t have bothered with the abduction,” he says. “If Lia loses the tribunal, her father will demand she be dealt with according to the Old Laws and that means she will go back to him anyway.”

My animus roars in my ears and I have no choice but to ride it out.

Chapter28

Savage

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