Page 33 of Seeded By Two

His nostrils flared and he repositioned his feet.

He pulled back his leg and stepped forward with a powerful kick. “It’s you that should have been more careful!”

I blocked the blow and rolled to one side, but he anticipated it and fell on top of me.

He wrapped an arm around my neck and squeezed hard.

I kicked and flailed.

I could have elbowed him in the gut, could have thrown back my head to get him to release me, but I refused to harm him.

It was my job to protect him — even if it cost my life.

I yanked on his arm wrapped about my throat to get a little leverage so I could speak.

I said the words I should have spoken earlier:

“She’s… not just… a mate!” I snorted.

“Then what is she?” the Prince snarled in my ear. “A bit of fun? You used my mate for your own needs?”

He squeezed harder, choking me in earnest.

I struggled to breathe and black spots danced in my vision.

I would soon pass unconscious and then I would be doomed.

Whatever I did next would decide whether or not I saw another day…

Or Beth’s face…

Suddenly, the full sense of my duty to her struck me hard.

It was to her that my heart and duty now belonged, not the Prince.

I had spent my entire life protecting him, mimicking him…

But now I had to be myself.

It was the only way I could see Beth again.

I could not die here.

I roared, spittal flying from my parched lips, as I lashed out with my elbows, slamming hard into the Prince wrapped around my body like a fopiz serpent.

He grunted, hard, and his grip loosened — a little.

I threw my head back and caught him, and this time he lost his strength, but I still could not slip free.

But I took a lungful of oxygen and it was (hopefully) all I would need to deliver the crushing blow I required:

“She’s my fated mate!”

9

ASLAS

The journey to the Seeding Facility had been a harried one.

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