14. Davon

Chapter 14

Davon

I roared and leaped onto Wortek, dragging him to the greasy floor where I proceeded to punch him in the snout. His tail whipped up, wrapping around my waist, and he wrenched me away, tossing me across the room. I crashed into tables and stools as I fell, landing hard on the floor. But I sprang up and raced toward him again, only stopping when the king's attendants formed a wall between me, Wortok, and my mate.

Maggie stared at me with wet eyes and horror on her face.

I lunged for Wortek again, but the king's guards reinforced their living wall between us. Wortek climbed to his feet, snarling, blood trickling from his snout. “You're a dead male, Davon,” he promised, his voice low and full of rage.

The king pushed through the line of attendants, his massive hand lifting to silence Wortek. He looked at me, then at Maggie .

“You care for her,” he stated simply. I would no longer hide it. To think I'd laid out a plan for her to escape alone, believing she'd never need to act on it. We could run now, but I'd be dead before we could make it to the wall.

I nodded, my eyes on Maggie. She shook, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. I wanted to go to her, to protect her, but I couldn't.

“Come work for me,” the king told me. “You can be her bodyguard. I'll buy you from Wortek who, it appears, plans to kill you.”

I stared at him, my heart racing. I didn't want to be bought or owned by anyone, but did I have a choice? If I stayed here, Wortek would make good on his threat. And I couldn't leave Maggie to whatever the king planned.

“Do you accept?” the king asked, his face a mask of boredom.

I looked at Wortek, his eyes filled with anger and a touch of disappointment.

There really was no choice.

I nodded, my head bowing in submission to the king. It was a small price to pay for my life and for the chance to protect Maggie.

The king grunted, waving toward Wortek. “We have a deal.” His voice held no inflection.

Wortek's tail lashed behind him, but he only hissed. His sharp glare impaled me. “Don't walk on the streets, Zuldruxian. I'll be watching.”

The king strode through the room, waving for his staff to follow. “Bring them. Do not let them escape.”