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“Watch your back,” I warn her. “Keep it to something solid, your hand near your blade. Understand?”
“Yes.”
We move outside, followed by most of the occupants who’d been inside the pub. Carleah stands with her back to the pub wall, not close to any windows or doors.
“No blades,” Red orders.
“I won’t need one.” After removing mine, I offer it to Carleah. And when I meet her gaze, I’m damned happy not to see a single shred of concern on her face.
“I’d say good luck,” she says. “But I don’t think you need it. Kick his ass, Fort.”
“With pleasure.” Adrenaline surging through my system, I turn to face him and end up with his fist slamming into my jaw. I barely notice the sting, and when I stare back at him, Red looks genuinely surprised. “That was one hell of a cheap shot,” I say as I stalk toward him. He backs away, fists still raised. “Tell me, that what you’re used to? Handing out first punches when your opponent isn’t looking?”
Two men charge from right behind me, their heavy breathing and dragging feet a clear giveaway the moment they start moving. I whirl on them, slamming my fist into the side of gold tooth’s face then grabbing the long, yellow hair of the second man. I pull him in and bang my forehead against his.
He goes down like a bag of rocks while I roll my neck and wait for Red to launch another attack.
He’s staring at me—fury, embarrassment, and concern etched in every line of his face. His gaze flicks to Carleah, so mine follows, only to see two men sneaking around the side to her. Before I can say something, though, she’s raising my sword and clicking her tongue at them.
“Don’t even think about it,” she warns.
They stop in their tracks, and I turn back to Red. “Cheap shot and you’re going to try and sneak up on my woman while I’m not paying attention? A puddle of piss isn’t good enough for you,” I growl and charge.
Two more of his friends sprint toward me. One manages to land a fist in my gut before I lift him by his pathetic fucking throat and slam him back to the ground. His friend jumps on my back, so I reach up and grip his hair, flipping him over me and driving my fist into his face.
He falls still.
Red charges me, and something slices my arm open. I look down at crimson welling on my skin then growl as I meet his gaze. The dagger in his hand shakes, and he doesn’t bother moving before I grip his wrist and snap the bone as though it’s only a twig.
He screams, a pained echo that has everyone around us backing up a few steps. I rip the blade from his limp hand and toss it to the ground, burying the blade in the dirt. “Anyone else?” I demand, throwing out both hands. “Oh, come on, you all were so ready to come out and watch me in an outnumbered fight; none of you have the balls to take me?” I’m so used to being tested, to being put in a fucking ring and fought like an animal, that this is nothing new.
But when I look at Carleah, at the way she’s watching me, the anger I feel at being fought for sport disappears.
Because since the two men who’d been moving in on her backed off, her attention is purely focused on me.
And there’s only one thing I want to do now.
“That’s what I thought.” I shove past the crowd and take my sword, sheathing it, then grab her hand and pull her around the side of the building. My heart is pounding, heat pummeling me for an entirely different reason now.
I slam her back against the wall and capture her mouth with mine. Her lips are feverish as she winds her hands up around my neck and clings to me, taking every ounce of what I give her. My cock is hard, my pulse hammering in my ears as I channel the energy that fight gave me into loving a woman I was never supposed to have.
Right now, nothing else matters to me.
No war.
Navalis.
Soreno.
The son of fucking flame.
They’re all nothing but an echo in my mind. Because Carleah is in my arms, her body pressed against mine.
A footstep crunches behind us, so I pull away, shielding her and preparing for another fight. The bartender watches me with an uninterested expression. “Your stew is ready,” he says then turns and leaves.
Carleah starts to laugh, and adrenaline wearing off, I turn to grin at her. “We’re finishing that later.”
The amusement fades to something more carnal. “I should hope so.”
