Page 45 of The Hellbeast's Betrayal

Of course, I could understand it. As like she pointed out, she had been through a lot, and having me acting like an animal, marking my territory, hadn’t helped. Not that this meant I could stop myself, fuck no, the guy was getting punched regardless. And like men, we had fought without using our powers to aid us. The big bastard had even got a few good hits in, making me spit out blood and grin like some crazy fucker at him.

In fact, the only thing that stopped the fight was Lerna, who had shouted to me that Koro had found an intruder in the camp. My panic at letting Ella storm off, quickly replaced my rage that had been centered on the Viking. Making my head snap up and call her name.

I felt like a fucking fool when finding that, once again, her protection had been left to others…and that fuck Orson, no less.Something she had every right to be pissed at. Oh, and didn’t my girl let me know about it, not putting up with my shit for a second.

But then this was one of the many things that I loved about her. That she wasn’t afraid to call me out on my shit and pull me up on it. She didn’t fear me when most did. Something that proved incredible when I had turned into my true self, allowing her to see the real beast…Cerberus.

Her bravery had been astonishing, as most would have run screaming at the very sight. But not her. No, she had trusted us both and tamed that side of me like no other.

The second I had heard the battle in the distance, I had lost that piece of myself that made me human. Not a shred of it left, apart from my mind locked behind the bars of my Beast as he took over completely. Which left me with no control and barely anything more than an outsider looking in.

His eyes, like a window to all that was happening around me, just left me feeling helpless to do anything but worry for the woman I loved. But as the HellHounds escaped our wrath, the fuck Garmr, with them, I was then left waiting for her to emerge from beneath us.

The sight of her would have brought tears to my eyes before I was allowed back into my mortal vessel. The magic that bound us, reversed so as he disappeared back to the soul of me. A simple touch was all it had taken, and I was there, finally able to pull her into my arms.

And now…

I just had to find a way to keep her there.

Starting with torturing information out of a prisoner. Which was why, after I did as my Fated had requested, enjoying every second I got to make a meal out of her, I left her sated and asleep. My brother was already with Marcus, waiting outside for me.

“Guard this tent, allow no one inside, I won’t be long,” I told them. My brother nodded and replied, “We got this, go.”

I placed a hand on his shoulder as I passed, headed to where the prisoner was being held. Asher, Tyr, Koro, his sorceress Sorina, and now fucking Orson were all there watching him.

“What have you discovered?” I asked, seeing now that the prisoner had been moved to a cell made from one of the buildings that remained intact. It was just minus a roof, but with the prisoner chained to a metal hoop on the floor, he was going nowhere. A glance through the bars showed me he had already been beaten, making me grit my teeth. I wanted to be the one to hurt the fucker!

But then, I also wasn’t going to complain at how I had spent my time. Not with Ella’s naked body writhing beneath me, with my lips locked to her sweet, delicious pussy.

“It’s not good,” Koro replied, making me tense.

“His intent was to use a snake bite to sedate Ella so as she wouldn’t be able to fight back in the oncoming battle.”

Once again, I gritted my teeth so hard, I could have bitten through metal.

“Garmr doesn’t know she lost her powers?” I asked, making him shake his head. “And what of this battle?” This question was aimed at all of them.

“It’s true, as on my way here I saw his army headed in our direction,” Orson added with a grim expression.

“Fuck! But this is not giving us enough time,” I bit out.

Koro’s face said it all. His light olive eyes darkened as his lips thinned in an expression of concern.

“What are their numbers?” I asked Orson, as clearly, the fucker was on our side now.

“Far greater than our own,” he replied, his own brown eyes narrowing when glancing back in the direction they would hit us from. It was the same road we had taken to get here, which had open fields on each side and would provide the ideal battle ground if we had the numbers. Something we didn’t have.

“Then I have no choice, I am going to have to try and get Ella away from here, as we can’t let him take her,” I stated, my hard expression showcasing my resolve.

“I agree, and if Garmr knows she is no longer here, he will retreat as he will want to conserve his numbers for the greater battle ahead,” Koro agreed, giving us insight to what type of leader Garmr was. Some would say strategic. I, however, would call it cowardly.

“Yes, but without first knowing where this great battle will take place, we can’t amass our own numbers, as we need to let the other Kings know so they can bring their own forces,” I pointed out, thinking of Dom and Lucius who would have their own legions to aid us. And we also needed Clay here, who might have a chance at reclaiming his own army back, and therefore leaving Garmr with nothing but his HellHounds.

“Then I suggest we take the fight to Garmr when the time is right… once we know where in the realm he is hiding,” Koro suggested, making me nod.

“Any ideas where that is likely to be?” Tyr asked, making the gypsy sigh in frustration.

“I have a few ideas, yes, but that doesn’t help our current situation,” Koro replied.

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