Warlord's Ward

Broken

"Well done, Jade." His blue eyes were keen on me. "Get up."

I did but it was on unsteady legs. I gave him a wary look.

He watched me impassively.

I realized that his eyes were the clearest blue I'd ever seen. Like a sky on a cloudless summer day. But when he turned feral they glowed like the inside of a flame.

I tried to give him a look which would seem unafraid but knew that my eyes flitted like a scared doe.

He jumped into motion and I nearly screamed. He twisted and caught behind my knees and my shoulders. Lifting me and compressing me until I was in his arms in a bridal carry. Leaving behind him the smoky black tendrils that indicated he'd moved inhumanly fast again.

I need to remember what he is at all times.

Stay on my guard. I reminded myself.

My arm automatically slung over his muscled shoulders. The high bones of his shoulders moving as he carried me toward his bed.

I noticed how smoothly he walked. Gracefully, as though he hardly touched the floor at all. I felt like I was floating in his arms. I wanted to retract my touch from around his neck but the way I was balanced in his grip, I was unsure if I could lift it from around him and if I did, I wasn't sure where I could put it that would seem less awkward.

"Stop with all your worrying. You're only unsettling yourself."

I gave him a sharp look but found only his profile.

He stared straight ahead. Moving around furniture as he reached the side of the bed. Tilting me in his arms as though he'd dump me from his grip to bounce along the surface. Instead, he held onto me. "Move the bedding."

I blinked wide eyed at him.

He nodded toward the blanket. "Move it back."

I hesitantly reached over and tossed it aside. Wondering if I was sealing my own fate.

"I'll fight you tooth and nail." I said harshly. Giving him a black look.

He smirked and quirked a black brow. "I dearly hope so...It'd be no fun otherwise."

***

He sat on the side of the bed and tucked me beneath the blanket next to him. Lifting one of my arms, he clipped a shackle which was seared to the railings of the top of his bed. Effectively hitching one arm over my head and sealing it to the frame.

I swallowed hard. "Don't touch me!"

"Oh, I'm going to." His gaze roved over my naked, vulnerable body. "Every inch of you."

"Please don't." I whimpered in a moment of uncharacteristic weakness.

He clucked in his cheek. "Have you not learned yet not to bother pleading with me?"

"Then what can I say to make you leave me whole?"

"Nothing."

***

I hated the way he said everything so flatly.

His tone always dull and matter-of-fact.

As though nothing could ever touch his emotions.

"How did you get to be like this?" I asked as he slid onto the bed next to me.

He tucked a pillow under his head. Drawing one black fuzzed knee up and turning his head to stare at me levelly. "Why would that be the question you'd ask?"

"What else would I ask?"

His head rolled to stare at the high ceiling above him. To my surprise, he mimicked a woman's high voice. "Why are you doing this to me? What would make you let me go? Why do you hate me? Why would you want to hurt me? Why me? Why not another? When will you release me?"

"I'd like to know all those things." I said softly. Voice certain. "But you won't answer any of them."

"No. I won't."

"But this, I thought perhaps you might."

He paused. Gazing at the ceiling thoughtfully before he abruptly rolled to his side to face me.

I couldn't help that my eyes trailed over his body. This was the first time I'd ever been naked with a man. And I'd always wondered about the differences between them and me. But seeing it in heated flesh was entirely different than all my musings.

He was darkly tanned flesh, broad mobile muscles, shining skin and the bit of flesh that rested along one of his thighs looked very different now then it had a short time ago as he'd inserted it in my face. Taking his pleasure from my mouth.

He seemed far less dangerous to me when his rod was like this then when it was fully erect and I knew he'd want to put it in me until he was sated.

I was quickly learning this little game of his.

***

His blue eyes were hard on me.

"What?"

"What would you do if you found out I was far from what they say I am?"

"What do you think they say you are?"

"What would you say about me?" He queried shrewdly.

"Why do you answer every question with a question?"

"I find it's the best way to get answers."

"What of the answers I want?" I asked bitterly.

"Clever little thing, aren't you?"

I frowned. Wondering if he considered that a downfall. Then registering that if he did, he might find my wit unattractive. Many male wolves in my pack had seemed to.

At least that was what my aunt had told me.

I'd never gotten to talk to any other than Clements.

Clements. I closed my eyes against the swell of pain at the thought of his face.

"You think of him often." Warlord remarked.

My eyes snapped open.

"He died a good death. Quick. Quiet." He asserted.

"Quiet is a good death to you?" I snapped. Sitting up as much as my restraint would allow me. Indignation making my eyes spark and my back stiffen. "As long as they don't disrupt you while you're killing them, then there no trouble to you?"

"Not what I said." He blinked slowly.

"Then what did you mean?"

"He didn't beg. Didn't whine. Didn't cry or piss himself. He died with courage and dignity. Quietly with pride. Few men do."

For some reason that made something in me shatter. Hearing someone say something so kind about someone who'd meant so much to me drew all the strength from my body. I collapsed backward and slumped into the bedding with a cry. Putting a hand over my face to hide the tears streaming down both sides of my face.

I shouldn't cry before my enemy.

"Is this what you wanted?" I jerked my hand away to look at him with teary eyes. Refusing to be ashamed. "To see me break?"

He was quiet.

"I'm not going to break. Warlord. I'm no meek plaything for you to destroy."

"I dearly hope not."