her, a feeling that overwhelmed common sense. She didn’t want to think about Dane in another woman’s arms. Having relations with her…fucking, as it was called. No, she didn’t like that at all.
“Now that I know you’re Charger’s woman, I will deliver you to Drakus. He’ll take great pleasure in breaking in Dane Charger’s woman.”
Defiance burned in her gut. “Why?”
Bantu’s grin, dirty teeth and all, sent revulsion curling in her stomach. “Because he has special business with the man.”
Before she could retort, the hut door burst open and banged against the wall.
Chapter Six
Ketera flinched as two large men leapt through the door. Bantu drew a dagger from his waist and jumped onto the bed. He held a blade to her throat. She gasped in genuine surprise and fear. Her terror changed into stark relief.
Dane had come for her.
Dane stood a few feet in the doorway, his gaze feral red, anger clear in the set of his mouth. Instead of using his dagger, he’d drawn his sword. The same one he’d used to kill the dragon. Behind him stood a man almost as tall as Dane, eyes equally red, the handsome lines of his face grim and assuring that he’d come to wreak havoc. He wore a sleeveless vest decorated with silver metal motifs depicting savage beasts she’d never seen. He wore belted brown leather trousers that hugged his body with enough love to hint at powerful thighs and calves. The man’s body bunched with lethal tension. She tore her attention away from him to Dane.
Dane caught her gaze in his, and for a few seconds the fire left his eyes. Aggression vanished and reassuring warmth replaced it. For a few seconds she felt safe despite the fact Bantu had her tied to a bed and a knife at her throat.
Dane’s eyes blazed red again, and he practically growled the words, “Get away from her. Now.”
“Best do what he says,” Dane’s companion said with a rumbling deep voice that held hints of smoke and sinful nights. “You don’t want to cross him, and I’m afraid you’re already in bad shape. Charger is the most vicious bastard I know.” He shoved one hand through thick, wavy black hair that fell to just the top of his shoulders. His nonchalance took her off guard. “Charger is deadly.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Dane said with a sneer. “Rayder Tyrus is far more dangerous.”
Bantu snickered. “Rayder Tyrus. I’ve heard of you. Big, bad Daryk One who became a slave trader.”
Slave trader? Dane was with a slave trader?
The man called Rayder scrubbed at his stubbled jawline. It looked as if he hadn’t shaved for days, but it only made him more handsome.
“I’ll take her off your hands,” Rayder said to Bantu.”
When Dane didn’t protest, a chill spread all up and down Ketera’s body. Uncertainty turned her stomach. Then she saw the quick smile that passed between Dane and Rayder. Perhaps Rayder and Dane were playing at being enemies? She could only hope so.
“I ain’t giving her up to anyone.” Bantu’s sneering answer growled over her head. “She’s mine until I turn her over to Drakus.”
“You will not survive that long.” Rayder’s voice became deeper, a hint of anger around the calmness.
“I’d rather see you fight for her,” Bantu said. “Whoever survives will fight me for her. The winner takes the spoils.”
By the god, they are fighting over me as if I were a piece of meat.
“Best you let her go, mate,” Dane’s companion-at-arms said. “My friend has a bloodlust upon him.”
Bantu laughed. “It will make the fight all the more sweet.”
Dane shifted, and Bantu brought the knife nearer to her throat. Ketera gulped in a breath as Bantu pressed closer. “Stay back or I’ll cut her.”
“You know what we can do to you, man.” Dane’s voice held pure poison, as gravely as rocks rolling together. “You work for a Daryk One. You’ve seen his worst.”
Bantu grunted. “What of it? She’s mine now.”
“I want her back. And neither of
“Now that I know you’re Charger’s woman, I will deliver you to Drakus. He’ll take great pleasure in breaking in Dane Charger’s woman.”
Defiance burned in her gut. “Why?”
Bantu’s grin, dirty teeth and all, sent revulsion curling in her stomach. “Because he has special business with the man.”
Before she could retort, the hut door burst open and banged against the wall.
Chapter Six
Ketera flinched as two large men leapt through the door. Bantu drew a dagger from his waist and jumped onto the bed. He held a blade to her throat. She gasped in genuine surprise and fear. Her terror changed into stark relief.
Dane had come for her.
Dane stood a few feet in the doorway, his gaze feral red, anger clear in the set of his mouth. Instead of using his dagger, he’d drawn his sword. The same one he’d used to kill the dragon. Behind him stood a man almost as tall as Dane, eyes equally red, the handsome lines of his face grim and assuring that he’d come to wreak havoc. He wore a sleeveless vest decorated with silver metal motifs depicting savage beasts she’d never seen. He wore belted brown leather trousers that hugged his body with enough love to hint at powerful thighs and calves. The man’s body bunched with lethal tension. She tore her attention away from him to Dane.
Dane caught her gaze in his, and for a few seconds the fire left his eyes. Aggression vanished and reassuring warmth replaced it. For a few seconds she felt safe despite the fact Bantu had her tied to a bed and a knife at her throat.
Dane’s eyes blazed red again, and he practically growled the words, “Get away from her. Now.”
“Best do what he says,” Dane’s companion said with a rumbling deep voice that held hints of smoke and sinful nights. “You don’t want to cross him, and I’m afraid you’re already in bad shape. Charger is the most vicious bastard I know.” He shoved one hand through thick, wavy black hair that fell to just the top of his shoulders. His nonchalance took her off guard. “Charger is deadly.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Dane said with a sneer. “Rayder Tyrus is far more dangerous.”
Bantu snickered. “Rayder Tyrus. I’ve heard of you. Big, bad Daryk One who became a slave trader.”
Slave trader? Dane was with a slave trader?
The man called Rayder scrubbed at his stubbled jawline. It looked as if he hadn’t shaved for days, but it only made him more handsome.
“I’ll take her off your hands,” Rayder said to Bantu.”
When Dane didn’t protest, a chill spread all up and down Ketera’s body. Uncertainty turned her stomach. Then she saw the quick smile that passed between Dane and Rayder. Perhaps Rayder and Dane were playing at being enemies? She could only hope so.
“I ain’t giving her up to anyone.” Bantu’s sneering answer growled over her head. “She’s mine until I turn her over to Drakus.”
“You will not survive that long.” Rayder’s voice became deeper, a hint of anger around the calmness.
“I’d rather see you fight for her,” Bantu said. “Whoever survives will fight me for her. The winner takes the spoils.”
By the god, they are fighting over me as if I were a piece of meat.
“Best you let her go, mate,” Dane’s companion-at-arms said. “My friend has a bloodlust upon him.”
Bantu laughed. “It will make the fight all the more sweet.”
Dane shifted, and Bantu brought the knife nearer to her throat. Ketera gulped in a breath as Bantu pressed closer. “Stay back or I’ll cut her.”
“You know what we can do to you, man.” Dane’s voice held pure poison, as gravely as rocks rolling together. “You work for a Daryk One. You’ve seen his worst.”
Bantu grunted. “What of it? She’s mine now.”
“I want her back. And neither of
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