LITMIR.BIZ

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him to rush to the girl—who she then freed from Shivawn’s grip. She stepped between the pair, her gaze searching for...she wasn’t sure.

      “I know you want to go home,” she said. “I’ll find a way, I swear it.” Will never give up. “But until then, how do you want to handle this situation?”

      Silence. The Spanish girl even looked away from her, as if she couldn’t bear to be the object of anyone’s scrutiny.

      “Obviously she doesn’t want anything to do with you, either.” Shivawn clasped Shaye’s wrist, clearly intending to move her out of the way.

      Her self-defense training kicked in, and she pivoted, grabbing hold of his wrist and dropping to the floor, her weight and momentum dragging him down with her. Upon impact, she thrust out her legs, nailing him in the chest and causing him to flip over her head.

      He remained on his back, staring up at the crystal ceiling. Held immobile by shock?

      Other warriors gaped.

      Valerian raced to her side to pull her to her feet. He focused on the other woman. “Do you wish to be chosen by another warrior? Do you wish to be given a room of your own? I’ll ensure you are undisturbed.”

      Her eyes roved over the remaining, eager men. She shrank back, gulped, then slowly shook her head.

      No to Shivawn? Or no to the room? Or both?

      “You may take her to your chamber, Shivawn, but you are not to touch her tonight. If one of the humans I...met...yesterday is interested in...meeting you, you may...meet her in a guest room.”

      Why the hesitation? Did met, meeting and meet actually mean screwed, screwing and screw?

      “Why don’t you take her home instead?” Shaye asked as Shivawn stood.

      “Do you wish to go home?” Valerian asked the other woman.

      Again, the girl shrank back and shook her head no.

      Shaye didn’t understand. “Do you want to go with Shivawn?”

      A nearly imperceptible nod, but a nod all the same.

      She glared at Valerian. “Can Shivawn be trusted to obey your command?”

      “All my men can be trusted to obey me. More than that, they aren’t rapists.” There was a good amount of affront in his tone. “Go,” he told the couple.

      Shivawn and the girl hurried out of the room.

      The man who’d hit the wall punched the guy next to him.

      “Happy?” Valerian asked as he escorted Shaye back to the line.

      “No!”

      Of course, the “selection” continued.

      This time, none of the soldiers approached her. Perhaps because she’d proved too much trouble for zero reward.

      The line dwindled significantly.

      “It’s almost over,” Valerian whispered. His breath fanned her ear, and he trailed a fingertip along the bumps of her spine. A caress to arouse...or a gesture of comfort?

      Did it matter? Either way, she almost slumped into a boneless heap. So good! Only the sudden, unexpected feeling of being watched strengthened her resolve to appear unaffected. Her eyes darted across the remaining men—and collided with hate.

      Every fiber of her being recoiled.

      “Lean on me if your feet hurt,” Valerian said, mistaking her reaction.

      “No, thank you.” Leaning on another—relying on another—would never appeal to her. Even though the idea of being enveloped by his heat and strength actually did appeal to her.

      In her experience, the moment she softened and allowed someone in, that someone would leave her, disappoint her or betray her.

      “Joachim,” Valerian called. “Your turn has arrived.”

      “That one.” Joachim, as it turned out, was the man with hate in his eyes. “The pale one in your arms.”

      Valerian cursed, and Shaye gasped. She’d been so sure she’d scared everyone away. Now ice chilled every inch of her.

      “What did you say?” Valerian wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly, his fingers digging into her skin, probably bruising.

      The shocking thing? She didn’t want him to let go.

      Joachim braced his legs apart, his expression stern and smug. He wasn’t a man besotted or even consumed by lust. No, he looked ready for a fight. “Give her to me. She is mine.”

       CHAPTER SEVEN

      “VALERIAN,” SHAYE SAID, her voice shaky. As shaky as her limbs. “I’m unwilling. I don’t want him. If he tries to lead me away—”

      “He won’t. I’ll take care of him. Worry not.” All at once, Valerian was infuriated that someone would dare try to take Shaye from him, overjoyed that she felt safest with him and frightened that he might actually lose her.

      And to his cousin, no less. The man would break her beautiful spirit.

      He and Joachim had never enjoyed an easy camaraderie. Through no fault of his own. Over the years, Joachim’s thirst for power had transformed him into a rebellious fool. He’d become far too wild to control.

      How Valerian would change his mind, he didn’t yet know.

      The only question that mattered, he supposed, was how far was he willing to go.

      Easy. To the death.

      “There are two other females in line. They want you. This one doesn’t.”

      Joachim never once glanced at the others. “Don’t care. I’ve already chosen the pale one.”

      “Well, I haven’t chosen you.” Shaye pressed her soft body more firmly against Valerian. Her frosty scent enveloped him, fueling his determination.

      “Challenge me.” Valerian pinned his cousin with a hard stare. “I’ll accept.”

      “And turn me into a prize?” she gasped. “No. Absolutely not.”

      Valerian ignored her. He had to. He knew the way of the nymphs; she didn’t.

      Joachim had issued challenges in the past. He longed to prove his strength. Valerian had always turned him down. Not because he’d feared losing. On the contrary. He’d known beyond any doubt that he would win, and his cousin would die.

      Despite their acrimony, he had no desire to kill the male.

      For a moment, an all-too-short flash of time, Joachim considered the offer. He even began to nod. Then he stopped himself. “Unacceptable. You had sex yesterday. You’re strong. I’ve been neglected for weeks. We aren’t on equal ground.”

      A muscle jumped in Valerian’s jaw. Did his cousin hope for a night with Shaye, then a fight with the king? “I’ll bargain with you as I bargained with Shivawn. If one of the humans in my chamber desires you, you may spend the night with her and rebuild your strength. On the morrow, we will fight for Shaye.”

      Shaye...who uttered another round of protests.

      Joachim’s black brows arched, and something—an unreadable emotion—brightened his blue eyes. “You said you wouldn’t claim another surface woman, yet there you stand, attempting to do just that.”

      “Do you accept my offer or not?”

      Lips curling in a cold smile, Joachim pointed to Shaye. “I do not. I want that one. As is my right.”

      “You have zero right to me.” Shaye shook a fist in his direction. “Cart me away. Go ahead. I dare you. While you

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