25. Maggie

Chapter 25

Maggie

O olah took me to my room, but after I’d washed up, I lay on my bed, unable to sleep. Davon was in the basement—with others, per the king. Who? It probably didn’t matter unless they were a threat to the male I loved.

How was I going to rescue him? Because I wasn’t going to lie passively in my room and dance my feet off for the king without trying.

I dozed, but come dawn, I got up and dressed, this time donning pants and a tunic, my shoes. I flexed my muscles, warming them up, and I scoured the room for weapons, finding a few likely objects that might actually make a difference.

When Oolah arrived, I was ready. She entered the room as always, this time with a tray of food in her hands and a sullen expression on her face. As she placed the tray on one of the tables, I attacked.

Oolah barely had time to straighten before I struck, swinging the metal mug I'd tucked behind my back, smashing it against the side of her head. She staggered, surprise flickering through her eyes. Hissing and with her tail whipping behind her, she regained her balance much too quickly.

“You think you can defeat me, puny human?” she taunted, her forked tongue flicking out. “I'm Oolah, a Veerenad warrior of the highest order. You are nothing but a plaything for the king.”

I didn't respond, didn't waste my breath. I needed all my energy to take her down. She stood between Davon and me, between freedom and this cage. I wasn't going to let her win.

She waved a hand at the door, a cruel smirk twisting her snout. “If you can best me, pet, you can walk out that door. But I promise you, it won't be easy.”

I feinted left, then darted right, grabbing the wooden chair from beside the table. I swung it at her, aiming for her head. She ducked, but the leg of the chair caught her shoulder, sending her crashing into the wall. Dust rained down on her, but she only grinned, pushing herself away from the wall.

“You'll have to do better than that,” she spat, her tail lashing out. It caught me around the ankle, yanking me off my feet. I hit the floor hard on my side, pain jarring through my body. But I didn't let go of the chair. As she latched onto my leg and tugged me closer, I swung it at her again, this time shattering it against her knee.

She howled, her grip on my leg loosening. I scrambled to my feet, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Her knee buckled, but she stayed upright, limping toward me with murder in her eyes.

“You're going to pay for that, pet,” she growled.

I tossed the remnants of the chair at her and grabbed the metal tray with my meal. I hurled it at her like a Frisbee, food and dishware smacking into her. She deflected it with her arm, but it gave me a moment to think.

I had to be smart. She was stronger than me, more skilled in combat. But I was quick, and I was desperate. I danced around her, using my agility to dodge her blows and land kicks where I could. Each one barely fazed her, but I wasn't going to give up.

She swung at me, her claws grazing my cheek. It stung, and my blood flowed, but I didn't stop. I grabbed a shard of the broken plate from the floor and slashed out at her, catching her across the belly. She roared, more in anger than pain.

“You can't win, human,” she panted, pressing a hand to her wound. “Give up now, and maybe the king will show you mercy.”

“No,” I gritted out, circling her. “I won't stop. Not until I'm free. Not until Davon is free.”

She lunged at me, her hands outstretched. I dove to the side, rolling across the floor. I came up behind her, the shard still clutched in my hand. With a cry, I launched myself at her back, wrapping my arm around her neck. I pressed the shard against her throat, my heart pounding wildly.

“Yield,” I hissed in her ear. “Let me walk out that door. ”

She struggled, her body thrashing beneath me. But I held tight, pressing the shard deeper into her scaly skin. A thin line of blood trickled down her neck.

“Give up,” I snarled again, my voice steady despite the fear coursing through my veins like fire.

She stilled, her body tense, before she raised her hands. “Go.”

I slid off her back, keeping the shard in my hand to slash out again.

Hatred burned in her eyes, but she didn't attack.

I dashed for the door, wrenching it open. I turned back to see Oolah still standing in place, her eyes locked on me.

“I’ll count to ten,” she said with a sly smile. “Then I’ll track you down and kill you.”

As I slipped into the hall, her cackle rang out.

“Run, human. Run!”