time. Raven was close. She could somehow feel him nearby.
“You’re a monster,” she answered.
“You American women display yourselves like whores in the market place,” he said, using his knife to push her dress up. “In my country, women can be punished for this. Should I punish you?”
Cara started to struggle. She had to get away. This man was a lunatic.
“Hold her you fools. Doran,” Adar shouted at one of his men.
The man with the scar ran up to help the first. They had pulled her hands above her head, and each man had grabbed one of her legs, pulling her thighs apart with bruising force. Then, Adar grabbed at the rip in her dress and pulled it apart up to her armpits. Cara whimpered. She couldn’t help it. Biting her lip, she tried to quiet her terror.
“What?” Adar said. “No, begging? You Americans are so arrogant.” He reached out and cut through first one side of her panties and then the other. “Of course, begging will not save you.” He continued dragging the knife down the inside of her thigh, cutting her on the way down. Her breath hissed with the sting and feel of warm blood running down her skin.
“But Allah will forgive me for falling under your spell,” he said as he put the knife back into its sheath. He reached for his pants and started to lower his zipper. He pushed his pants down and held his shaft up for her to admire.
“See what Allah has blessed me with, and think what a pleasure it will be to take me into your body. The last pleasure of your life.”
Adar laughed and nodded to his men.
Cara continued to struggle. She would not accept this as her fate. She watched in horror as Adar grabbed her thighs and pulled her close to the end of the table.
Just then, Raven appeared from out of Shadow behind Adar. He grabbed him around the neck and twisted. The sound of breaking bones was loud in the room. Then, he threw Adar to the side.
“Nobody touches my mate.”
Before Cara could blink, more men appeared out of the shadows. A knife flew through the air and into the heart of the man on her right and then Raven shot the man holding her on the left side with his crossbow before he scooped her off the table and headed for a door.
“Finish up here,” he said to Joe.
Everything went dark and cold. Raven had Shadow-walked. They came out into the infirmary in New Mexico. Cara recognized it from the last time she had been here.
Raven’s heart had almost stopped when he had seen what Adar was up to. He struggled with having Cara’s terror in his head. But his rage helped him put that aside. What did Cara think of him now that she knew he was a killer?
Cara arrived naked in his arms at the infirmary. Her clothes had not been made with all-natural fibers. She was shivering, and Raven feared it was from shock.
Dr. Rick walked in, wiping blood off his hands from working on Derek’s shoulder. So Raven grabbed a sheet and wrapped it around Cara. He sat down, holding her in his lap.
She hadn’t spoken yet, and Raven felt a stab of fear. Had he lost her? Was she now sorry to have ever met him?
Tears were coursing down her face. He held her gently. He could feel the pain in her face and ribs coming through their telepathic bond. The cut on her thigh was throbbing.
Rage at being powerless to help her overwhelmed him. But he pushed it away. That’s not what she needed from him.
He rocked her gently, kissing her lightly on the face and eye. Just then, Dr. Rick came over.
“Put her on one of the beds, Raven,” he said.
“Oh, Raven,” Cara cried out and grabbed his shirt.
He looked at Rick and continued to hold Cara, still soothing her. She’s in shock, Rick, Raven sent mentally.
“Hush, love,” he whispered to her. “I am here, darling. You are safe now.”
Cara just held onto him and cried, burying her face in his shirt.
“You’re breaking my heart, Cara,” Raven said. “Please, tehila, I have you now.”
Rick came up with a syringe in his hand. He patted Cara on the shoulder, trying to get her attention.
“Miss Hamilton,” he said. “I’m Dr. Rick, and I’m going to give you a shot. It’s going to make you sleepy. But don’t worry. You’ll feel better when you wake up.”
“No!” Cara cried out. “Raven.”
“Listen to