Chapter Two
Netta
The second Merci latches the door Ren crashes through it like it's nothing more than a rotten log. Merci's scream sends my feet skimming the floor. I stumble, grasping the door frame. Whatever he's pumped into my blood has my head fuzzy, but it's Ren's curses that clear it.
He can't have her. Ren's not going to leave her ruined like me.
When I clamber over the remains of the door, I see Merci clinging to the window frame, body half out, and Ren's hands gripping her ankles as she flails and kicks at him.
"Let go of her!" I scream and launch myself at his broad back.
He shrugs at my weight, grunts when I sink my fingers into his chest and claw at his naked skin. Ren twists Merci's legs sending her tumbling to the hard floor. Then he grips my thigh and pulls me from his back like I'm a ragdoll and flings me on the bed. I buck upright and throw myself at him. Gods, he's heavy. It's like trying to punch stone. When he grips both my arms and turns me to the wall, flattening me against it with his weight the room spins. Out of options, I latch my teeth into the column of his throat.
Hissing in pain, he refuses to release me. His blood, hot and almost sweet, soaks my mouth.
Rumbling laughter fills his chest. "That's right, mark me."
His heat brands my hip. I jerk back, realizing I'm not harming him at all.
"You could have kept going. Bit deeper." Ren grins down at me. Sensual lips take mine in a chaste kiss that ends in my release.
My head spins, searching for Merci but she's no where to be seen. Ren points to the bed. Under it, Merci softly sobs. I bury my face in my hands. The girl could have run out the door by now, but no, she crawls under the bed and hides. She's a fool.
Ren collapses onto the lone wooden chair in the room and rubs absently at the damage I've done. His chest is a latticework of red gouges. Neck a mess of blood. Then he begins laughing. "So who is this?"
"My sister."
He nods. "She'll be coming with us then."
"No."
Ren rolls his eyes then runs a hand over his face. "I've bred you. Your mine."
The wind escapes me, but I manage to scowl at him.
"I could bind you and carry you home, but let's say I leave you. What will you do?"
The trail of cooling cum tickles the back of my knee. I've got precious little coin and there are so few who will do what I consider. Ren must see the thought on my face because he stands and draws closer.
"They won't want you. Even if you lie, move and say your mate died and left you with child, they'll know. My blood with be there. Can you hide the babe's ears? Their eyes? What do you think will happen to you?" He strokes my jaw, voice softening. "How will you live? How are you living now?"
I'm not. I have food for the winter but not the money for the spring taxes. We'll lose this house. My father was a hunter, but I haven't even his bow to use after his death. He put us too close to the Sveril lands. It was a fine choice for his work, but not for a pair of girls living alone.
I close my eyes. Perhaps, if I can breathe properly, I'll snap out of this nightmare. But he's right. They didn't care much for my status before. Now if anyone finds what's been done, they'll call me a whore. I'll be lucky if they take my coin in the market.
"And if I was so heartless as to leave you now, another Sveril will find you." Ren waits while the words sink in. I'm damned now.
But Merci, she could walk to town. Beg for help. Perhaps someone would take her in.
"Fine, but leave her."
"She'll come with us." Ren turns to the bed. "You hear me girl? Come out and get your things."
"You have me, you don't need her."
"I have brothers."
I'm clutching at his arm, fisting his loose shirt, begging. "Please, she's just a girl. You can't!"
Ren cocks his head, a look of incongruity painted on his face. "She's nearly our age. I'm surprised she isn't mated already."
"She's barley eighteen, please." Carefully, I stroke his jaw, willing him to relent. "She's justโshe's a silly girl."
Ren exhales slowly and places his hand on mine. It's soft, intimate. "She'll be my brother's bride by nightfall."
"I'll kill you. I swear it."
Ren smiles sadly. "You could try. We're not easy to kill. But, could you think of this as a chance for happiness?"
My eyes burn. If I say another thing, I'll end up sobbing.
"My younger brother, Devlin, is just twenty. He's kind and will do right by her." He waits for me to soften, to submit.
"He can'tโshe's too naive to be..." I trail off, knowing what will happen to her. I can't imagine her maturing enough in the next year to care for a house, a babe, a male, without the world crashing around her.
"I'll ask him not to." Ren's hands fall to my shoulders. There's a moment between us where my will flies from my chest. He notices. "Pack for a week, we'll come back for the rest later."
When we part I note Merci's sobs are silent. I press my hand to the door across the hall and step into the bath chamber. Ren catches my elbow, turning me so I must look him in the eye. "Do not wash yourself. Not until we are in my home."
Despite his intense gaze, I snap, "You're so certain the damage has already been done, why not give me the dignity of walking around without your cum at my ankles?"
"Believe me," he leans close, whispering into my ear, "My request
will