Page 64 of Over the Emerald Valley
A terrifying moment of stillness followed. Solon glanced around frantically, his heart pounding against his ribs. Temaj crawled to Neku’s aid. Neku’s chest rose and fell but with a worrisome shudder.
Abasi wanted to turn him into a demon.
Was that the answer?
He couldn’t fight Abasi as he was, but if he were like Abasi…
His gaze snagged on the abandoned wooden chair. Solon clenched and released his fists, tension boiling over.
When he drew in a breath to regroup, his arms were jerked behind his back and restrained with a viselike grip. Abasi’s foot rammed into the back of his knee. Solon’s leg buckled, and he landed on his hip with an agonizing crunch.
A fist gripped his hair and wrenched his head back, exposing his neck.
Temaj yelled, “No, please!”
Sharpened teeth flashed before his eyes, and spittle rained down on his face as Abasi fired back. “Watch as I drain your lover dry.”
Twin points of white-hot pain erupted as Abasi sank fangs into his throat.
CHAPTER22
Temaj
“No, master, stop!”Temaj sprang to his feet, lunged toward Abasi, and grabbed him around the waist.
Though he tugged with every bit of strength in his body, the viceroy didn’t budge.
Solon let out a growl and threw his body this way and that, but Abasi’s grip was unbreakable. Solon’s arms remained pinned, and the horrible fangs stayed buried in his flesh.
The scent of copper and salt grew thick in the dank air as Temaj beat Abasi’s shoulders with his fists. “Let him go!”
Abasi roared back, casting Temaj to the floor. He eyed Temaj with fury in his gaze. Blood dripped down his chin. “Don’t interfere if you want to live.”
Solon flailed away from the deadly teeth. But despite his efforts, Abasi’s hold on his wrists held firm.
Temaj rose to try again.
Solon looked him straight in the eyes. “Don’t. It’s not wor—”
Abasi struck, a new bite and savage.
Solon moaned. His head rolled to the side, facing Neku. “Get him out. Protect him.”
Blind passion drove Temaj. Before this, he wouldn’t have considered himself a brave man, but giving up wasn’t an option. He dove to retrieve the discarded knife.
He wrapped his fingers around the hilt and raised his arm high, aiming this time for Abasi’s throat.
Before he could plunge the blade into flesh, Neku grabbed him by the belt and yanked him away.
Temaj whipped his gaze to Neku, shocked and angry, but Neku’s expression was pleading. “Stay behind me and give me that.”
Neku took the dagger. When he didn’t use it to advance on Abasi, Temaj grappled for it but couldn’t wrestle it from his grip without slicing his hands to bits.
Neku snatched his wrist with his free hand. “I need your help.”
“But—”
“There’s nothing we can do for him.” Neku urged him back the way they’d come, through the curved hall and the massive stone doors.
