Chapter 79 Valen
VALEN
I grip his neck harder, pulling him away from her. He tries to fight me, but it’s not even close to an even match.
“Let…me…go!” he chokes out.
I spin him around to face me and squeeze his wrist so hard I feel the bones grind together.
With a cry, he drops his dagger. It tumbles to the ground and clangs against the flagstones.
“You tried to hurt my mate…” My voice comes out double—the voice of my Drake overlapping my own as we speak as one.
“What…who…how?” he sputters. His eyes widen as he recognizes me. “The beast!” he exclaims. “You’re the beast I captured!”
That’s right—I have a bone to pick with him beyond what he tried to do to Irena.
“How does it feel, Prince Kellis?” I growl, shoving my face into his. “To face me when I’m not drugged or chained? How does it feel to face me in a fair fight?”
“Let me go!” he whines… trying unsuccessfully to twist out of my grip. He’s got one hand free, but he makes no move to throw a punch—he’s just trying to flee like the coward he is.
I look at Irena.
“Are you all right, sweetheart?
“He…he was going to stab me.” Her eyes are wide as though she can’t believe her own brother would hurt her.
Then again—why would she be surprised? I’m sure he’s the one who had her chained down here in the dungeon—just as she was in my vision.
My eyes flick over her body, searching for damage, and I see the red lines of crimson streaking down her forearms, where the manacles have bitten into her wrists.
Anger begins to rise in me—no, not just anger—rage.
I feel it boiling in my blood and my Drake’s rage answers it and adds to it.
I feel my throat growing hot with his fire.
Our mate! I hear him growling. He harmed our mate! HE MADE HER BLEED!
“He’s never going to hurt you again,” we say together, to Irena.
Then I open my mouth and breathe out a gust of flame.