Page 35 of Held

Wick caught it and roared. The amulet was glowing again, smudged with sweat where it hung between Briar’s breasts. It was the only thing keeping Wick from tearing into all these men without mercy. He could feel the blood frenzy bubbling up inside his skull like a wildfire.

“You horridbeast,” Vern spat, reloading his crossbow. “Fear not, maiden! We will save you!”

“Oh, comeon,” Briar complained.

Wick leapt back into the clearing. There were too many weapons, and he didn’t want one of them to get careless and strike Briar by accident. His loincloth was in a pile next to the ashy campfire, but he ignored it as he turned to face the three men, two of whom were running at him with crossbows and one of whom was standing back and looking like he might be sick.

“Flank him,” Vern barked. “Get ‘im, Earn!”

“I got him, I got him,” Earnest croaked, his hands shaking as he pointed his reloaded crossbow at Wick’s head.

Arrows flew. Wick caught one. The other one flashed past his arm, dragging a divot of flesh out with it.

Wick snarled reflexively. “Stop! I mean you no harm!”

Behind them, Pen made a noise of confusion that reminded Wick very much of how Briar had reacted when he had spoken to her for the first time. Obviously, the stories they heard of Skullstalkers did not include much talking, much less asking for peace.

“Get ‘im,” Vern yelled again, sweat beading on his forehead as he reloaded.

Wick prepared for another onslaught.

Briar ran out of the trees, waving her arms.

“OI,” she yelled. “CUT THAT OUT!”

Everybody stopped. Briar walked in front of Wick and stood, naked and glistening, her arms raised defensively.

Vern was the first to recover. He raised his crossbow, pointing it at Wick’s head. “Young maiden, move.”

“Youmove,” Briar replied. “You’re ruining my night.”

The men traded a confused look. The pig that Pen had been trying to pick up slipped through his grip yet again, slapping to the mossy ground.

“But,” Earnest tried. “But he was ravishing you.”

“He was!” Briar smiled brightly. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like for him to get back to it. So if you wouldn’t mind getting out of my sight, I’d appreciate it.”

With that, she bent down to snag her shirt from the ground.

“But,” Earnest said again. He turned to Vern, looking lost.

“What sort of unnatural woman are you?” Verne asked, horrified. “You bedded aSkullstalker?”

“Well, no mortal could satisfy me.” Briar gave him another sunny smile as she wriggled into her pants. “You can leave now. Feel free to leave the pig, I’m getting hungry.”

Pen looked expectantly at Vern, his arms loosening like he was actually thinking about leaving the pig. Then he noticed Vern’s disgusted expression and grabbed it tightly again.

Vern’s nostrils flared. “Void take you,” he snapped. “If you don’t know what’s good for ya, we’ll sort you out. You’re comin’ with us.”

He took a step toward Briar.

Wick growled. He stepped in front of Briar, his wings flaring out warningly.

“Just try it,” he snarled.

Briar’s grin turned threatening as she watched Vern. Wick had never seen a smile do that before. It was intriguing.

“And how are you going to take me?” she asked, her calm hiding bloodshed behind it. “Three mortals against a Skullstalker and his pissed off woman. You might as well place your heads in his mouth.”

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