This hideous, monstrous creature slowly crawled toward them, his tongue out, the hissing and screeching noises coming on louder, more frequently.
“It’s infected and rabid,” Styx said, his hand still on her waist. But then he pushed her back. “Stay far away from this, my female.” He had his hands now wrapped around the sword fully and faced off with the creature.
She watched in horror as the beast charged forward, spittle spraying out of his gaping mouth. It didn’t have wings like the last beast, and it kept close to the ground. The scales on its back were iridescent red and orange, and every time the sunlight hit them through a break in the canopy of leaves above them, a flash of blinding light bounced off of it.
She didn’t know if it normally moved on the ground like a snake, or it couldn’t stand fully up because it was sick. Either way it was disgusting and frightening. Everything seemed to happen so quickly. Her heart was in her throat, and she worried for Styx more than herself.
More spittle dripped out of its mouth as it howled out and charged forward again before stopping just a few feet from Styx.
“Move back further, Audrey,” Styx shouted out.
She didn’t breathe, couldn’t for that matter. But when the creature lunged forward and swiped out with a talon toward Styx, she covered her mouth in horror. Looking around, she wanted to find a weapon, but aside from some sticks on the ground there wasn’t anything. She couldn’t lose Styx, not after she’d accepted her life, and what she felt for him.
Styx swung his blade out, slicing into the side of the creature. The beast made this loud, blood-curdling cry.
Watching the fight in horror was all she could do. Trying to help when she was just a novice in these things, would get either her killed, or both of them. She couldn’t be a distraction to Styx, and if she tried to help she knew she would be.
She watched the horror continue to play out, saw Styx fighting like he did this daily.
He probably does.
And then Styx sliced his blade through the creature’s neck. Black, oily looking blood sprayed out along the ground a second before the creature fell to the ground, the life from its eyes fading.
Everything was still for a second, and then Styx turned around, a few cuts on his chest, and even one on his cheek. But overall he was in good condition for just fighting that beast.
And then Styx came up to her, wrapped his hand around her nape and pulled her close. He kissed her on the top of the head and murmured in his native language something that sounded sweet, caring.
“What did you say?” she asked, wanting to talk about anything to keep her mind off the hideous creature just a few feet from them.
“It means you’re safe, that I’ll always protect you with my last breath.”
She closed her eyes, felt her body start to tremble with the aftereffects of what had just happened, of what she’d seen.
At any moment her life could change, but it wasn’t just about living in this foreign environment, but also anywhere. She’d been taken from her home, sold off, and had ended up finding herself here. She looked up into Styx’s face, the man that would lay his life down for her just because that was what he wanted, because he held her close.
Audrey rose up and kissed him, not caring about anything else in that moment but showing him that she wasn’t afraid, and that she wanted him, too. When she pulled back she could clearly see the desire on his face and felt how hard he was against her belly.
“As much as I like what you’re doing, female, I want to get you back to the safety of the cave.”
She nodded, agreeing, but also knowing she wasn’t going to stop what was inevitably going to happen. She didn’t want to stop it.
Chapter Eight
She swallowed, her slender throat working from the act, and Styx found it highly attractive.
They’d come back to the cave not that long ago, and after he’d cleaned off the blood and grime from the fight, he’d made sure his mate was fed. He’d also checked her for any wounds, even if he knew she’d been unscathed. What happened out there was rare given the time of day it was, but of course it had to happen when they’d been out and Audrey had been exploring. But he supposed he was glad it had happened that way, because maybe now she fully realized how dangerous it was. If he wasn’t capable, and didn’t know he could protect her at all costs, he wouldn’t have risked taking her out.
Styx couldn’t keep her caged in the cave, protected from the horrors and dangers of the outside environment. But he’d meant it when he’d said he’d be by her side whenever she ventured out. She was his mate, his equal, but he also would make sure she was never harmed.