Winter’s Caress(Brac Village 19)(32)

“And you would rather follow that freak Rakeym.”

The anger and betrayal in Egbar’s eyes was tangible. His father picked the kitchen knife up and drove it into Dasani’s shoulder. As badly as he wanted to remain silent, to show Egbar that his tactics were useless, Dasani screamed.

He was going to die. The truth of the situation was in Egbar’s eyes.

Egbar twisted the knife and then pulled it free. He held the bloody blade up and then wiped the blood over his cheek, leaving behind a crimson path over the left side of his face. The stranger who had taken Dasani down chuckled as he stood over the two, smirking maliciously at Dasani.

“I’m not only leading the rebellion to keep the old ways,” Egbar said, “but I plan on ruling our tribe. I will become the new leader. I will show our people the true way.”

“Y–you’re mad.” Dasani clenched his jaw, fighting against the wave of nausea.

Egbar drove the blade into Dasani’s other shoulder. Dasani screamed until his voice strained and fell silent.

“No, I’m sick and tired of Rakeym preaching about allowing outsiders in. The book that was found states that we used to breed with those outsiders, but I think Rakeym forged that book. Our elders were pure. They did not fornicate with filthy shifters or bloodsucking vampires.”

Egbar pulled the knife free. “And I plan on sending you to hell.”

He raised the knife again, and Dasani knew this would be the killing blow. Egbar planned on driving the blade into Dasani’s heart.

Dasani’s only regret would be leaving Winter all alone, of robbing him of a lifetime with his mate. He wished it could have been different, but Dasani had to avenge his sister’s death. Too bad it hadn’t worked out that way.

As the blade sliced through the air, Dasani slammed his eyes closed and screamed. He waited for the blow that would end his life. But it never came. Dasani heard a bit of a scuffle and then a burst of air. He cracked open his eyes and was stunned to see Egbar and the stranger fighting Rakeym and Nazul.

Nazul annihilated the stranger. His blade drove deep into the man’s stomach, and then Nazul kicked the slumped body away, pulling his blade free. But Rakeym didn’t have it so easy. Egbar wasn’t going down without a vicious fight.

Dasani tried to get up, but he shouted and fell back to the floor as the pain in both shoulders radiated throughout his body. Chairs were overturned, furniture broken as Rakeym slammed Egbar onto the table. But Egbar rolled and jumped to his feet, the battle waging on.

Dasani gazed at the ceiling, fighting not to pass out. Something shimmered close to him. He saw two men enter the room. It was Ahm and Winter. Dasani had never been so glad to see Winter.

“Dasani!” Winter raced toward him and then dropped to his knees. His hands hovered close to Dasani’s wounds. “Oh, bluebird, why?”

“Sheba,” Dasani said between clenched teeth. He reached up and pressed his hand against Winter’s strong jaw. “I haven’t told you I love you yet, have I?”

Winter shook his head, and Dasani could see the tears shining in his mate’s beautiful blue eyes.

“I love you, little bluebird. Never forget that.”

Dasani’s smile wobbled. “I love you, too, Winter Bourne. My knight in shining armor.”

Winter pressed a kiss to Dasani’s forehead before he shifted. Instead of Winter kneeling there in his human form, Dasani now saw a very large white Bengal tiger. The tiger leapt onto the table and then jumped at the fighting men. Rakeym spun out of the way as the tiger landed on Egbar.

There was a gurgling shout before the room grew silent. Egbar was dead.

Ahm knelt next to Dasani and brushed his knuckles over Dasani’s cheek. “He wants to be your savior.”

“H–he is,” Dasani said as he swallowed roughly.

Winter had saved him in more ways than one.



* * * *



“You are an impossible, overbearing mutant!” Kevin shouted at Winter.

“And you’re an arrogant, insufferable asswipe!” Winter shouted back.

Kevin narrowed his eyes. “I will defeat you. You are going down, hard.”

Dasani rolled his eyes as he curled his legs under him on the overstuffed chair in the living room. “First off, language,” he reprimanded Winter. “Second, will you two stop threatening each other and just play the dang game?”

Kevin threw the controller down as he jumped to his feet, stabbing a finger at Winter. “I’m going to slay you, Elf Lord.”

“Not if I kill you first, troll.”

Dasani stood, stretched, and patted his mate on the shoulder before he walked into the kitchen. He was getting a dang headache listening to the two argue over some stupid medieval video game. It had been four months since Dasani had lost his sister, four months since his father had been killed. Although his shoulders sometimes hurt from the wounds Egbar had inflicted, most days he was fine.