Raw

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Queen

Fierce, hot rage exploded like an inferno inside me. As the twin took a step toward Mhor, his eyes full with blood-lust, I let out a roar. Swinging, I punched Father across the jaw. The force knocked him to the side, freeing me enough to scamper from under him. I ran straight at the twin.

His gaze flashed to me the moment before I attacked. I knocked him to the ground and punched him in the nose. His head smacked against the hardpacked dirt, but I turned for his weakness, his injury. The open flesh of his calf gave me places to ram my fingers. He wailed, bucking to get free of me.

"I will kill you before you touch Mhor!"

"Zora, stop!"

I swung at the sound of Mhor's voice. The twin tried to sit up, but I dug my fingers in deeper to keep him in place.

Mhor met my gaze, pain in his eyes. "I couldn't bare it if something happened to you. Please, go somewhere far from here."

"I won't." I scampered over to him and clasped his face. "I choose you, Mhor, and I will for the rest of my life."

"Zora." He kissed the palm of my hand. "I have been found unworthy."

"There is no one more worthy." I nuzzled him as I cried. "I choose you. I choose you!"

My voice echoed and carried away in the wind.

A low snarl circled behind me. Swinging around, I blocked Father, hissing as he paced in his hunt pose.

"Zora," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "move away from Mhor."

"No." I wrapped my arms around him, grasping for his bindings. "He has done me no harm. The lion who has done me the most harm here is you."

"He is a betrayer--"

"You have betrayed me." I shifted to keep my body between him and Mhor as Father moved to the side. "I chose him in the beginning, but you never honored that choice."

Father let out a deep growl.

"All that has transpired is because you greedily clung to me, refusing to let me go. And what for? So you could remain king? So you could remain the superior lion throughout the land? You refused to release me because you refused to let go of your power."

The twin snickered. "She is clever."

Father lowered his head. "You are wrong, Zora."

"Then you will end this and honor my choice for a mate."

Hissing and snarling sounded behind me. Glancing over, I found Naya blocking Thelmos from approaching. "Naya?"

"I will stand by you, Zora," she said over her shoulder. "I will honor your choices, whatever they may be, and I will fight to protect your pride."

Father growled. "You are not to have a beta!"

"Mother has one!" I yelled. "But you have no power over that decision."

Father looked over us. "Kill her."

Thelmos snarled. Naya let out a whine. I swung around in fear as she cowered back from his attack.

"Naya!" I managed to loosen Mhor's binding enough that he tore free. Launching to his feet, he grabbed Naya and tossed her behind him and against me. He stood tall against Thelmos, his eyes ablaze as his muscles flexed. Standing face to face, the pair appeared evenly matched in size and strength.

"She is mine," Mhor said.

"Then take the creature and run far from here." Thelmos clutched at the dagger on his belt.