Loved by a Beast - Miranda Bridges Page 0,36

I do find has my heart racing.

The silver in her gaze shines like the edge of a dagger, waiting to inflict pain. So when Grefina parts her lips, I brace myself.

“Yes, Massela.” Her tone is mocking, as is the smirk on her face.

Yania glares at Grefina and then Jaxar, her rage palpable. But my attention isn’t on my friend or even my enemy. It’s on my husband, whose expression has gone from stoic to disbelieving to murderous.

“And I’m assuming the Masse is the one who approached you?” I ask.

Every word is like acid, burning and scorching as it makes its way up my throat and across my tongue. My lungs threaten to collapse as my chest squeezes in on itself, but I refuse to let any of that show. I have to get through this conversation if I want closure.

Grefina tosses her hair as though she doesn’t have a care in the world. “Yes. When he asked me to help him with securing rations, I thought nothing of it, but the more time we spent together, the more I realized we care for each other.” She clasps her hands and fixes me with a look that’s meant to be remorseful, but it isn’t. “I care for the Masse, and I know we never planned for this to happen. But you can’t ignore what your heart wants, and he—”

Her sentence is cut off as Jaxar grabs her throat and lifts her off the ground until she hovers above him.

“Trazak!” His shout is nothing short of a roar, and the forcefulness of it has my gaze widening in shock. Grefina claws at his hand, her eyes bulging, but instead of removing his hold, Jaxar shakes her. “You will cease with these poisonous tales. I will not tolerate the infection of you spreading, so it will end right here, right now.”

“Ecknar zat,” Yania murmurs even as she nods in obvious approval.

Fucking shit is right.

I jump from the bed, ignoring the soreness of my body, and race to my husband. There is no doubt in my mind that he’s going to kill Grefina. She may not be innocent, but she doesn’t deserve death.

“Jaxar, stop!” I grip his arm and yank on it with all my might, trying to get his attention. “You’ll kill her!”

He turns his gaze to me, and I suck in a breath at the blazing fury I find there. He opens his hand, and Grefina plummets to the floor, landing with a muffled thud. She inhales over and over as if she’s not getting enough air, clutching her chest all the while. And I vaguely hear Yania reassure someone that all is well, but it’s quickly forgotten.

Jaxar folds his arms, his rage no less potent. “Why did you interfere?”

I retract my hands after realizing I’m still holding on to him. “Because you were going to kill her.”

“Did you not hear the lies she told?” Jaxar asks, gesturing toward Grefina with a sharp claw.

“How do I know they’re lies?” I tilt my head and stare up at my husband, searching his gaze for the truth. “How do I know you’re not just silencing her to protect yourself?” His chest heaves with his angry breaths, and he grinds his teeth as I continue speaking. “Let me finish what I started here but without interruption this time.”

I don’t wait for him to agree, but since he doesn’t stop me from crouching next to Grefina, I know I have his compliance. For now.

“We need to come to some agreement,” I say to her. “I know what I want, but what do you desire, Grefina?”

Her silver gaze flickers between me and Jaxar before she answers. “I want him.”

“And what else?” I ask, ignoring the low rumble that comes from Jaxar. “I’m sure it’s been difficult for you, knowing he has a silana already, but I also know how alluring Jaxar can be.”

“Yes,” Grefina says, her tone wary. “He is.”

“And he’s an amazing lover, so generous.”

The female nods even as her brows pinch together.

“In fact,” I say, tapping my chin, “he’s enough for us to share. If that type of thing appeals to you.”

Yania comes to stand beside me and places a hand on my shoulder. “Massela, as your friend, I would caution against this. It would create imbalance and upset in the tribe, which would spill onto the others. Please think of the repercussions.”

“Thank you for your advice.” I lightly shrug off Yania’s hold, never removing my gaze from Grefina. “So what do you say?”

Grefina blinks