Lord of Destiny (The Dragon Demigods #6) - Charlene Hartnady Page 0,84
looks at me with disgust. I stomp hard on his foot.
His face registers first pain and then shock. I knee him in the groin…hard.
He groans, falling onto his knees; the look of pain intensifies a whole lot.
“That’s as close as any part of me is getting to that.” I point at where his hands are clutching his manhood. I’m tempted to punch him in the face, but he isn’t worth it, and my wrists are still tied so it would be difficult to get a good blow in. Asshole!
I turn and walk straight into Stephan’s chest. He’s still bloody and bruised, but he’s smiling. Busted lip and all. “I thought I would leave you to it.” He glances at Lance. “Was he being an asshole?” he asks as he works on the knots binding my arms.
I nod, giving Lance a dirty look. “That’s putting it mildly,” I say as Lance falls onto his side. He’s groaning loudly, still clutching his junk.
Stephan undoes the knots and pulls the rope free. Then he cups my face in his hands. “I’m so glad you’re safe.” He brushes a kiss against my lips and then winces as we come apart. His lip is still pretty busted. It’s not bleeding anymore, but it must hurt.
“Shit, I got some blood on you.” He wipes at the bottom of my lip with his thumb.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay.” I hug him.
Stephan wraps his arms around me and hugs me back. It feels so good.
“Thank you for standing up for me,” I murmur.
“Anytime.”
“Thank you for not killing West,” I say. “I don’t think he planned to give you the same leniency. Did he hurt you badly?” I give him the once-over.
“I’m fine.”
I hug him again. “I’m so glad you’re okay. So, so glad.”
“Stop saying that. It’s like you didn’t think I could do it.” He kisses the top of my head. I can feel his big hands moving up and down my back.
I pull back. “You scared me there for a minute.”
“I was holding back. I knew I could never kill another person in cold blood.” His eyes are narrowed in thought. “I was kind of hoping that West might feel the same way. I…” he shakes his head. “It’s over now.” He sighs.
“What did West say to you?” I ask. “It clearly influenced your feelings.”
“Some bullshit about taking you as a mate and then doing everything in his power to ensure you love him as much as he loves you. There was more, but I didn’t catch it. It was more of the same…” He shrugs.
I frown. “And that pissed you off so badly you found your second wind?”
“It gave me a chance to regroup to a degree, but that’s not it.” He shakes his head.
“What then?”
“I’m not sure how to tell you this.” He’s frowning. He rubs his hand up and down the sides of my arms. “I’m not sure you want to know.” His eyes are narrowed with concern.
“I’m pretty sure I do.” I nod.
“It’s bad! I had a vision, Raven,” he says. His eyes have this look in them.
“You read West?” I sound unsure. I must have misunderstood somehow.
Stephan nods. “Yes, and it was bad. It was really bad.”
I fall hard as someone crashes into Stephan’s side. I turn to my right in time to see West and Stephan rolling. West lands on top of Stephan.
Stephan’s eyes are wide. I know that look. He’s having another vision. West pulls his fist back, ready to strike. “What the hell is wrong with him?” he asks, confusion in his eyes.
22
Stephanus
I’m seeing flashes of West’s future. Like video clips. In some, he is with a woman…there is a child. They are happy. In others…he is alone. He is drinking. I think it might be nectar of the gods because he is drunk. Then he is fighting a whole group of men. Oh, fuck! I don’t need to see this. He’s having sex with…I think she might be a prostitute. It’s no one he cares for…I know it. Now we’re back to a woman in his life, someone different this time. They are breaking up; they’re screaming at each other.
I moan.
I try to shove him off me.
I can’t. He’s too heavy, and my arms won’t work. Why won’t my arms work?
The visions turn into snippets. Same as in the longer visions, some are good. Some bad. Some are terrible. Snippets. Pieces. They’re moving from one to the next to the next. Going faster and faster. My arms