Page 45 of Trapped By Claws
Lishen nodded. His expression unchanging, he struck Corvin with his fist, dropping him to the ground once more. "You made no mention of that in your report. Nor did you mention feeding the leviathans."
"There are already rumors about you, worm food," Black Claws sneered. He pushed the washbasin over. Water splattered all over the floor, the dishes inside shattering. The basin itself cracked.
"Rumors that have been addressed," Corvin growled. He stood once more, signaling Tagger to retreat again. "I have answered every inquiry on everything."
"All except…when did you feed the leviathans?" Lishen demanded.
Black Claws shoved the pot of stew onto the floor. The broth and chunks of fish, potatoes, carrots, and tomatoes spilled out.
"After they destroyed the ship and I realized they were still hungry," Corvin said.
That was a lie.
I bit the inside of my lip, silently begging Lishen to believe his story and let him go.
"Well…we'll see, won't we?" Lishen said with a shrug. "But truly, there is one point that just keeps bothering me. It would seem that everyone but that pretty little female you claim drowned made it to the island," Lishen said, circling him. "And the funny thing is…the older woman—before the dwarf dragged her off—kept asking where her daughter was. She believes she's alive."
"Delusion, most likely," Corvin said flatly. "If she isn't on the island, then the girl is dead."
"Oh?" Lishen snickered. He crossed his arms. "That's the only other option?"
"What are you implying? I have no mate. I am not permitted, and I cannot take one," Corvin said sharply. "And if I could, I would not let her anywhere near you."
Lishen's nose wrinkled with disgust before he struck Corvin again. "You say that, but we both know what shifter fae do when they find their mates. It's practically uncontrollable. Nothing else matters. But it isn't like she had to be your mate for you to snatch her. You could have just grabbed her because you wanted something to warm your bed."
Corvin spat out a mouthful of blood and straightened his shoulders. "I have fire now."
The three fae laughed coldly. Then they attacked.
I cringed as the three fae beat Corvin, their blows falling swift and fierce. There were no more questions. Just strikes.The onlything that held me back was knowing I would make it worse for him if I revealed myself.
He staggered under the beating until he at last fell and did not stand. Blood dripped from his busted lip. His right eye swelled shut. The stripes along his face and body bulged and darkened in sickly shades.
Blue Ridges kicked Corvin onto his back. He then put his boot against his chest and seized Corvin's wrist with the claw bracelet. Corvin sputtered, choking on his own blood. Before he could do more than groan with pain, Blue Ridges snapped two of the claws in Corvin's bracelet directly into his wrist.
Corvin spasmed, the veins in his neck bulging. He gasped in agony.
Lishen pulled out the knife I'd used to chop the tomatoes. He held the blade up, looking it over. Then he jammed it in Corvin's side.
WOUNDED DARLING
Ibarely strangled my own cry of horror as the blade punched into Corvin.
No.
Corvin gave one strangled cry, his voice guttural. All the air had been driven from his lungs.
No, no, no!
Lishen seized a fistful of Corvin's hair and dragged him up to eye level. "This isn't over. We'll conduct our own investigations on this matter. Because the king is merciful, you will receive your medicine. But make no mistake, skin scraps, if we learn you have not been fulfilling the spirit and purpose of your duties, you will be punished. And if we find out you have a human—well…you know what will happen." He jerked his chin toward the door.
Blue Ridges snapped my wooden spoon and tossed it toward the woodstove. "More kindling for your fire." The pieces clattered on the metal top, one rolling toward the flame of the largest burner.
I set my jaw, my hands balling into fists.
Black Claws dragged the door open, waiting for Lishen to go through. Lishen strode over the threshold. "You'll appear before the king in three days. Unless we find proof of your treacherybefore then." With that, he strode away. The other two followed, Black Claws pulling the door almost shut behind them.
Every fiber of my body screamed for me to run to Corvin right away.
