Page 111 of Shrine of Fire

Stefan put his pen down, as well, but his face was flushed, and he blinked heavily. “Stop.”

It was slurred, and I paid attention to the word like it was coming from a great distance.

“We will see about that.” Admiral gestured in front of us. “How about some nice, hot tea.”

Tea. I made a face. There was still a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. “No.”

I meant to add the thank you, but I paused too long so that I could glare at the Admiral.

He tut-tutted and stood up. As he walked around the table, I tried to stand up, but nothing made sense. I couldn’t get anything to work right, it was as though my mind and body had become separated.

Panic shivered through my veins.

“You will sign the contract.” His voice was low and deadly. “Do not push me further, or I will alter the bedrights addendum to be whenever I please.” He put the feather pen in my hand, forcing me to hold the quill.

“Stop. Now.” Stefan’s voice was thick and heavy. His shoulders jerked, but apart from clattering the fine porcelain on the table, nothing happened.

The Admiral’s fingers on mine were rough and calloused, and he pinched too hard. “Sign it, omega. I have been more than lenient.”

He forced my hand to the first line of the signature. White panic broke into my mind, and with it, heat. Heat from flames, from righteous anger.

I almost let the flames go, but remembered we were on a ship in the middle of the ocean. If I set this place on fire, my pack would be in danger.

“Sign it now,” he growled. Stefan’s shoulders trembled, and his hands flopped around on the table.

The door slammed open. Hashir burst into the room, quickly followed by the First Mate, Jorhn. Lord Baylin was behind them along with the rest of my pack and some more of the Rannoian officers.

“Get away from them,” Hashir snapped.

Admiral Xilas still had my hands pressed to the paper. “It’s too late. She’s signed the contract.”

“Admiral, no,” Jorhn said. “This isn’t the way.”

“It’s too late.” Admiral Xilas crossed his arms over his chest. “Your omega is mine now, and if you’re lucky—”

Hashir punched the Admiral square in the jaw. The Admiral reeled.

Snarling, the Admiral grabbing a paring knife from the sideboard. “You’ll pay for that.”

Everything happened at once. Lord Baylin rushed to Stefan’s side. Aki and Cuan both lunged for the Admiral. Kalahar stayed by the door, blocking more officers from filling the room with a deadly glare.

Hashir danced away from the knife with a quick sidestep. Later, I would panic but, in that moment, I laughed that the Admiral thought he could beat Hashir.

Stabbing out again, Admiral Xilas followed through with his whole body. The First Mate stood to the side with my other men, hands out. “Admiral, this is folly. Stop it at once.”

“Fine,” the Admiral snapped. He made as if to drop the knife, but then threw it straight at me.

The room filled with shouts, but none of my men were close enough. Except for one.

Stefan lunged in front of me. His grip was wobbly, so the chair toppled to the side, and we both pitched to the ground.

The impact dazed me, and I lay on the floor for a moment, breathing in Stefan’s scent of cotton and lemon.

Something new tickled my nose, a fresh copper tang as I tried to sort out where my limbs were. Everything was fuzzy.

“Are you alright?” Kalahar pulled me into a sitting position.

I tried to say yes, but my mouth was too thick and heavy. Stefan sat next to me, his robe hanging off his shoulder, exposing his fresh bondmark.

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