Episode Fifty-Eight The Senator

E ldar

Panic flashes across Nadira's face for the swiftest moment, then she squares her shoulders and strides to the center of the room.

No longer a naked female, cowed and humbled, Nadira with her flaming hair, is dressed in her finest leathers, guns holstered at her hips, head held high. Her pride and strength are so brazen, I feel them as if they are mine.

"As of now, this moment, things must change in the Up Above. Before I tell you our manifesto, I will tell you what will happen if you do not comply."

I hadn't realized Dhar was absent until he barges into the room, an old male in his grip. The male is thin, barely more than a skeleton with skin. His thin white hair is mussed, flying around his head, probably from his attempt to flee.

He's sputtering, and even in the enormous orc's grip, he lifts his chin, acting as if he's better than everyone in the room.

Nadira has lost her composure. Her normally pale skin is somehow paler, and her lips are tremulous. As surely as I know my own name, I know this is the Senator, the male who banished both her and Alliana to the Down Below. This is the male who took pleasure in abusing his power even as he abused these females.

If she but gives the word, I will gladly kill this male, but I imagine I'll have to get in line behind her and her three mates, all of whom look as though they are ready to do the deed this second.

He sees her fear, her hesitation. I catch the look on his face when he realizes his very presence has cowed her. For a moment, it makes little sense. He's so frail, and she holds all the power with an army at her disposal.

Then I remember Big Al's power over me and I know as sure as I'm standing here that if Al was in this room, even old and weak, I might fear him for a moment, too, as all his abuses flew through my mind.

The Senator takes advantage, stepping forward, and spits, "Cunt."

A red haze of fury clouds my vision as I watch Dhar lift the male by his vulnerable neck.

"No!" Nadira thunders.

Is she going to save the bastard who tormented her and so many others? It saddens me to see her give away her power.

When Dhar doesn't move, she strides forward and urges, "Set him down, mate."

The Senator must sense he's back in charge as he spits. " Mate ." He clucks his tongue. "A highborn human stoops so low… ugly monster."

Dhar must love his mate something fierce because he finds the strength inside himself not to kill the motherfucker. Instead, he follows his beloved's request and sets the male on his feet. Dhar, Azael, and Thallose all must be dying inside to see their mate submit to the ancient human. My stomach is in a knot and she's not even my mate.

The room is silent. Man and monster alike are watching to see what will happen next.

"Hold him, will you, love?"

I was so anxious my shoulders had risen near my ears. Hearing Nadira's calm tone and the word "love" flow out of her lips reassures me.

She strides to the back of the room, baffling me as she picks her way through the sea of humans who move to make a path for her. She must have been in this room before, because she goes directly to the ornamental sword hanging on the far wall.

"No!" The Senator spits. Some dark place inside me thrills to see the exact moment he realizes he no longer has the upper hand. His eyebrows flash up in terror as his mouth opens in a silent scream as the small female lifts on tiptoe to yank the sword off the wall, then returns to her place in front of him.

The evil spot inside me must be larger than I knew because I find myself hoping the blade is as dull as a child's toy. It will hurt more. And I want this male to suffer.

Nadira's in her full power as she looks the old male in the eye and says, "I sentence you to die. I am judge and jury. Just as you sentenced me to what you thought was my certain death by banishing me Down Below for the crime of growing old, I sentence you to death for the crime of being a heartless, motherfucking bastard."

"Step back, my love," Nadira flicks her gaze to the orc as she hefts the sword in her grip, turns to her side to ensure she takes a full swing, and slices the metal blade through the air, separating her torturer's head from his body in one motion.

The human males gasp. The human females hoot in pleasure as if the team they rooted for just won an important game.

Nadira's army gives a cheer as Dhar, Azael, and Thallose come to her side to embrace her.