Prideful Savage (A Warrior's Redemption #1) - Miranda Bridges Page 0,12

my hip when I turn to leave. Only I don’t get more than a single step because the Kejel grabs me again.

I’m no Jackie Chan, but this guy is about to get his ass whipped.

Instead of pulling away from my attacker, I curl my fingers around the handle of the mug closest to me and swing it toward the male when he jerks me to him. The metal tankard slams against his temple, the contact sounding like a crack of thunder. This is followed by his roar of outrage and the spilling of liquid as all the items I’m carrying crash to the floor.

With my other hand free, I ball it into a fist and aim for his face. He evades me and snatches my wrist with a hold so tight I suck in a breath at the pain of my bones grinding together. The Kejel gets to his feet and yanks me to him, causing me to collide with his chest. The stench of him has my eyes stinging and triggers my gag reflex, but that’s nothing compared to how my skin crawls when he runs his fingers along my backside.

“You’re a slave,” he says, his voice booming across the room. “Act like one or I’ll take great pleasure in making you.”

There’s no doubt in my mind that everyone in the cantina is watching us, but that doesn’t matter, since I’m on my own. I thought Emji would help me, since I’m his property, and I’m surprised when he doesn’t.

Fueled by indignation, I wriggle in the Kejel’s hold with every ounce of strength I possess, and all he does is laugh. But the sound dies abruptly, leaving the room in complete silence. I quit struggling and follow the Kejel’s gaze, which is fixed on something behind me.

Actually, it’s a someone.

I glance over my shoulder to find Bravik less than a foot from me, flanked by Ezarith and Kalach. The air stirs with an intense energy, and sensation glides over me like a warm caress. Of their own accord, my shoulders relax, and a heat blossoms across my cheeks, as well as across my breasts. My breaths go shallow at the fury blazing in Bravik’s eyes. They remind me of burning coals, beautiful onyx surrounded by bright gold.

Is all that anger on my behalf?

Inwardly, I shake my head. We don’t know each other, and I haven’t said anything to him, so I’m not the reason for his upset. But the Kejel definitely is, and based on the way he narrows his gaze, he doesn’t give a shit.

“Release her.” Bravik gives the command with a quiet authority, but it’s nowhere near mild. In fact, there’s an underlying tone of danger, lurking just beneath the order. I may not be on the receiving end of his subtle threat, yet it’s not hard to feel it.

“Bust a nut, Incarus,” the Kejel snarls.

Emji chooses that minute to place himself right in the thick of things. He’s large and is definitely a force to be reckoned with, but that doesn’t seem to bother the rest of the Kejels, who get to their feet, their chairs scraping the floor.

“All of you, get out,” Emji says. “I’ll call the Enforcers, and they’ll arrest you for being a public menace.”

I’m not sure if alien males have testosterone, but if they do, I’m all but drowning in a sea of dick molecules.

Bravik tilts his head a fraction but never takes his gaze from the Kejel holding me prisoner. “We will depart as soon as the female is freed and not a moment faster. If that does not happen after I finish speaking, then I cannot be held responsible for what transpires.”

I turn my head as my entire body tenses in preparation for what’s to come. And I’m not disappointed.

The only problem is everything happens so fast my human brain is only able to process most of it.

The Kejel shoves me away from him with lightning speed and such force that I go flying. My feet become tangled, and I careen toward the floor with my arms outstretched to break my fall. Only I never hit the ground.

Bravik not only catches me but steadies me by wrapping his arms around my waist. If I had time, I’d huff at colliding into yet another male’s chest. Except this time, the scent that greets me is divine. It’s nothing I can compare to anything on Earth, but that doesn’t make it any less tantalizing. Without thought I inhale deeply to experience it