Page 38 of Rhaz's Redemption
“He cannot hurt me,” I continued until something caught my gaze. “He…” my words trailed off as I saw Beatrice slowly stand from behind one of the large rocks that lined the entrance to our mountain home. Fear and trepidation were clear on her face.
“He can’t hurt me,” I pleaded one last time, slightly commanding Beatrice to hide behind that boulder once again.She couldn’t do this. Whatever reason she had to show herself now, it wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t worth it.
“Six.” Dameron hadn’t seen Beatrice yet, but time was running out.
“Seve-”
“I am the last female!” She interrupted his countdown, and any hope I had for her safety was gone.
To my utter shock two more females rose from their hiding places and stood on either side of the one that I cherished.
“We are the last three females you have yet to meet,” Fatima shouted for all to hear. Beatrice gave her a weak smile and the three of them clasped hands as they stood side-by-side.
“Let him go,” I pleaded. “You have seen us. Be satisfied.”
A wicked grin spread across Dameron’s face and he loosened his grip on my shoulders. I stumbled to the ground, but kept my gaze on Beatrice.Go! Run! Flee from this place!I silently pleaded with her again. She had a chance. If she ran now she might just get away.
But she didn’t run. Instead, she walked toward me with her hands out, ready to help me back up again.
But my sire stopped her before she could reach me. He held her by the chin and turned her face side to side as he examined her.
“Let her go,” I growled as I rose to my feet.
A curious expression crossed Dameron’s face as he looked at me then back at Beatrice again. Then his eyes grew wide as if he’d just been given a twisted spark of divine inspiration.
“Seeing your act of selfless kindness toward this wretched creature has given me a new idea,” he said to Beatrice. “You will be the lever that sets my new plan in motion. You will open the door to a new bloodline for my family. I will get another chance to raise a seitling, and this time I’ll do it right.”
“No!” I growled then spit blood onto my sire’s feet like a curse. He grimaced but was undeterred from his goal.
“Grab the other two,” Dameron commanded as he wrapped his meaty hand around Beatrice’s soft arm and began pulling her toward the other dekes.
“No,” she voiced her protest as she tried to free herself from his grasp. “I won’t go with you!”
“You don’t have a choice,” Dameron hissed.
I looked ahead of me just in time to see two other males manhandling Fatima and Anusha. They were also struggling to be released from their grasp.
“Let them go.” A voice drew my attention to the left, and I saw Zander had stepped forward to challenge his Savrix.
“I knew you would turn aganist me eventually,” Dameron scowled, but continued to push Beatrice forward.
A crackling sound reached my ears and I turned again to see Zander had shifted into his flaming bird form. His arms had been transformed into burning wings and the scent of hot embers filled the air.
“I said let them go,” he repeated himself. Zander’s focus was entirely on Fatima and the male who was forcing her to walk against her will.
Everyone stilled at the sight of this new shifter who had emerged from years of secrecy. It was a risk to show himself like this, but, by the determined look in his eyes, it was a risk worth taking.
“You won’t be going anywhere with them,” Tarak stepped forward as well.
“I would sooner die than let you take Beatrice,” I stood to my full height in my shifted form and let my rage flood through me. He wouldn’t be taking Beatrice anywhere today.
My sire smiled as if I’d uttered some kind of joke. He alone knew the truth of my statement that I could and would die a thousand times over to keep this female safe.
“That can be arranged,” Dameron purred in a haughty tone.
“You’ll have to fight me too,” Brexl stepped up to the center next to Tarak and all of Dameron’s hunters shifted nervously on their feet. They knew Brexl, of all the shifters, was not to be messed with. He was built for fighting and his bone plating made him impossible to kill.
“These are empty threats. Keep moving,” the vile Savrix commanded, and his men obeyed.
