no part of this disgusting Other inside her.
“You fucking bitch. You’ll pay for that.”
A fist rushed toward her face.
A snap of wind. A hiss of air.
A rope curled around the careening fist.
The man’s hand jerked to a halt midstrike. Then, he flew back.
The weight atop her disappeared.
26
Grif sank his ax into the back of the last of the scum, his rage so great everything was shrouded in crimson, the blood spurting from the wounds of those at his feet not nearly enough. He wanted to paint the whole planet red for what they’d done.
Only the soft whimper at his back penetrated the roar of fury.
Nayla.
He swiveled round, kicking a body out of his way as he stormed toward her. “Tell me you’re okay.”
Wide frightened eyes bored into him, the moons’ rays making them shimmer along with her gorgeous skin. She stumbled upright, swaying on her feet, her weight heavy on one foot while the other barely brushed the ground.
Relief slammed through him. She was alive. And well enough to stand on her own. Thank the fucking gods. But she was hurt. Bruised. And something was wrong with her left ankle. The rays from the moon hid as much as they revealed.
“It’s okay, Nayla.” He raised his hands, palms out in a placating gesture meant to make him appear more harmless, and noticed the bloody ax clenched tight in his fist. He buried the blade in the dirt. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
Her wide-eyed gaze flickered between him and his discarded weapon as if she couldn’t quite believe what he’d done.
He kept his palms up and out. “I don’t blame you for running and I’m not upset. I just want to make sure you’re okay."
She swiveled and ran.
Just like before. Except everything was different now.
He left his weapons and surged forward.
Thanks to his longer legs and her injured ankle, he caught up easily.
“Nayla, stop.” He cupped her shoulder, the warmth of her skin burning his palm.
Her body vibrated beneath his touch, as if caught between flight and obedience, before she shrugged him off and ran harder.
Her fierceness surprised him all over again.
She’d fought like such a wild thing in that pit. It had made him think she was hardier than she was. But now, with bruises crisscrossing her skin, she looked frighteningly fragile. All too easily breakable.
Except she hadn’t given up then, and she wouldn’t now.
His bid to keep his emotions in check took a bigger hit.
Arms wrapping around her, he took her down, twisting at the last moment so he ended up on the bottom, bearing the brunt of the fall.
She was still thrashing as he used his momentum to roll, bringing her under him. He did his best to keep the bulk of his weight off her. He had no intention of crushing her, just stilling her movements enough to keep her from hurting herself.
“Shhh, wild thing. It’s okay. I promise.” There was a good chance his crew had heard the same shouting he had. “You can’t keep running on that injury. You’ll hurt it worse.”
She made no sound, but fought harder.
He understood. Talg had forced horrific punishments on her and she likely expected the same from him. He’d started to show her that he was different, but it would take a lot more than one time for her to believe.
“No one is going to hurt you.” Using her momentum to his advantage, he lifted her and flipped her, turning her on to her back and stealing some of her leverage. He forced her hands above her head into the dirt. “I’m sorry, baby. I should have taken better care of you. I’m going to make up for that now. I need you to stop fighting before you accidentally hurt yourself. All I want to do is make sure you’re okay.”
“All?” Her skeptical gaze flickered to the rope at his hip. He’d used it during the initial attack, but switched to his ax once she was out of the strike zone.
“That’s it.” Transferring her wrists to one hand, he used the other to unlatch the rope from his holster. He tossed it aside.
Surprise flared in her gaze.
“I won’t use that rope to tie you up again. Unless you ask real nice.” He tried for a joke. It was better than yanking her from the dirt and cradling her close, proving to his panicked mind she really was alive and in one piece.
He suspected that kind of behavior would only cause her to run again. So, instead, he stayed