Page 59 of Trapped By Claws
He recoiled, screaming, then hit me again. A knife flashed in his hand as he lifted it over me.
The door slammed open.
"Don't you dare touch her!" an animalistic voice bellowed. A great streaked shape lunged at him, tackling him to the ground.
"Corvin?" I struggled to open my eyes. Even breathing hurt.
Corvin seized Blue Ridges by the throat and slammed his head back again, rendering him unconscious or killing him. I couldn’t tell. "You hurt her, you deal with me," he snarled.
"Corvin!" His name stumbled out of my mouth, slurred.
His gaze snapped up to me, his expression nearly feral.
Before I could say his name again, he grabbed me. He pressed his bloodied hand against the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my hair and cradling me to his chest. His breaths whooshed against my neck.
"I'm fine." I tried to pull my mind back into focus. My heart hammered, and my head spun. Pressing my cheek to his shoulder, I tried to ground myself.
He was back.
Corvin.
He was all right.
My eyelids slid shut, breathing in his scent. Like Tagger, he now smelled more like fish and salt, but I didn't care. It was him. "They were going to kill you. The king." My voice rasped.
"That's not important." He held me close. His cheek pressed against mine. Golden light flashed between us. He stiffened, not letting me go.
"No—" I bristled, pushing back. "What do you mean that's not important? The king is going to take all your blood. He's going to kill you." I paused, realizing the pain in my throat and sides had vanished. Some minor soreness and weariness remained, but nothing serious. "You didn't use medicine…"
His bright-green eyes remained wide as he traced his claw down my throat from where a bruise had been to my bloodied hand. The blood remained, but not the cuts and scrapes. His thumb stroked along the back of my hand. "No…I didn't." He frowned as he turned my wrist over. Some of the bruising remained. "You started to heal…"
Was he injured? The vivid colors had returned to his stripes and face, but there were scrapes and scars.
"I'm healed enough." I placed my hand on his chest, staring up into his eyes. "Corvin…"
He was looking at me strangely now, his hand flattening over my throat. "I healed you…again…" He curled his claws lightly against my skin, his gaze fixed upon me with something like reverence and awe.
My breath caught in my throat.
He knew.
And so did I.
His throat bobbed as his claws lightly traced a line up to my lips as he held me close. "How can you be so beautiful? So perfect?" he whispered.
Tears spilled down my cheeks. Looking up into his eyes, I felt—I wasn't just seen. I was seen and accepted and wanted.
He leaned down and nuzzled me. A trembling breath escaped me.
His lips brushed mine, featherlight.
Something stirred in me, heating with each breath and flaring through me.
A low growl rumbled from his chest as his tongue pressed against my lips.
That set my pulse surging and thundering.
With a moan, I returned his kiss.
