The Warlords Revenge by Alyssa Morgan Page B

in her path, slammed doors closed behind her. Anything to slow him down. Have to get out of the house .
    Circling back to the dining room, she skidded to a halt as she came face to face with Gavyn in the opposite doorway. They were both panting, staring at each other across the large, wooden table, the mid-morning light gleaming on its shiny surface, and the four massacred bodies strewn around the floor.
    “We can do this the hard way,” he said, “if that's what you want.”
    “I don't intend to make it easy for you to kill me.”
    “It will be easy for me to kill you.” He slowly stalked towards her. “You're just a slip of a lass. I could snap your neck like a twig.” He twirled his sword in his hand.
    Jane tore out of the room, running through the house again. The walls were closing in on her. She couldn't think straight, didn't know where to go. The chairs she'd tossed over and doors she'd closed were now working against her. Slowing her down. Gavyn's heavy boots thumped behind her, gaining quickly. Fear gripped her. There would be no escape. It was useless.
    When his hand closed around her wrist, she turned on him, punching him in the throat with her free hand and kicking at his shins with all her might. His sword hit the floor with a loud, clanging noise and he grabbed her other wrist to subdue her. She tried to twist out of his hold, but his grip was like steel.
    She planted a swift knee in his groin, hoping he'd let go of her. It only enraged him more. He swept her feet out from under her and sent her crashing to the floor. The air rushed out of her lungs and he was right on top of her, pinning her arms over her head as she struggled to catch her breath.
    “Like I said—” He panted. “—you’re no match for me.” He stared down at her with a satisfied smirk.
    Jane took deep breaths, finally getting the air she needed. She went back to struggling with Gavyn , trying to pull her arms free and buck him off her. The heavy weight of his big body was crushing. It felt silly trying to fight him, but she wasn’t going to give up. The hard ridge in his pants pressed into her stomach and she stilled. He ground his hips against her.
    “Keep thrashing about, and I’m only going to enjoy it more.”
    “Get off me!” Gods , would he rape her before killing her? She’d imagined he would, but the reality of being beneath him was terrifying.
    “You’re in no position to make demands.” His gaze travelled over her body.
    When he released one of her hands, intending to capture both of hers in only one of his, she slithered out of his grasp and dug her nails into the fleshy part of his cheek. Right over his scar.
    A roar bellowed from him and he grabbed at her hand. Rising up, she sank her teeth into the groove of his thumb, biting down on him as hard as she could. He brought the back of his hand across her face, hitting her so hard her head bounced off the floor. Everything went cloudy. Her thoughts grew distant. Scattered. She was losing this fight.
    He startled her when he locked one of his hands around her neck, choking her. Frightened, she clawed at his hand, trying to pry his fingers loose.
    He brought his face in close to hers, snarling, blue eyes blazing. “I could kill you now and be done with it!” He squeezed harder.
    “Then why don’t you?” The words barely squeaked past his crushing hand.
    “Are you in such a hurry to die?”
    Jane went limp under him. No . She didn’t want to die at all. She wanted to live. To laugh. To fall in love. Have children of her own and give them a permanent, stable home. A good home. Like all children deserved.
    Her gut wrenched, eyes watered, brimming with tears. The drops flowed out of her, making wet tracks down her face. She would never get the chance to live a decent life. A normal life. The wish to be rid of her family had been granted, only now she was going to die rather than find freedom. Maybe that’s exactly what she deserved for having years of