Of Blood and Duty

Chapter Twenty Six • Insults and Pleasure

**Warning - Explicit mature content ahead** 

Very Long Chapter

-Loren- 

Jade was pregnant and alone on a continent ravaged by war. He had sent her away in hopes that she would stay out of Ulf and his men's hands but for how long? He had acted in pure panic and sacrificed himself so she would get the head start she so desperately needed. 

All this had felt like the only option at the time, but... now he knew nothing of her whereabouts. Had no idea if she was dead or still alive. 

I have to find her. He thought through the thick guilt that had nestled itself in his chest and gut. I can't stay here. Where could she have gone? Anywhere. She could be anywhere on this bloody continent. 

"Loren." A familiar voice said next to him. Sounding calm but underneath it he heard concern and hesitation. He turned to the voice and was met by Mae's face. The line of concern in her forehead was present, her eyes were studying his and searching for something he did not know what it was. 

"What?" He wondered quietly. His answer wiped away the line of concern and her eyes stopped looking. 

"Thought your mind had walked out on us for a second there." A deep booming voice chuckled without humor. 

Karr. 

"What happened?" Evor now. Loren met the leader's gaze to answer but was not quick enough. 

"He fainted." Hagan mocked in a crude scoff. His words were only spoken to shame Loren in front of the others. They had no other purpose than that. His rivalry with his sister spilled over on the man who's life she had decided to save and he had had enough of it. He knew Mae was not perfectly innocent in the infected and constant competition between the twins, but he was fed up with Hagan. 

Loren rose to his feet in silence, brushed himself off before answering Evor. 

"I remember who I am and everything that happened." He explained with a low voice as he prowled towards Mae's twin. Hagan slowly started to back up when he sensed that Loren was now becoming the threat he had feared since the day he had first laid eyes upon him. Loren might still owe the Guild his life and would never tell anyone know about their existence but he would however, let Hagan know exactly how dangerous he could be, if he chose to... and that he had had it with the insecure prick. 

"No blades." Was all Evor said as Loren passed him. Seeing instantly what was about to happen, but staying out of it. "Fists only." 

"Fists only." He reiterated the man's words back to him in assurance. This was no like him. He was not a hot headed person who liked to throw punches, but Hagan had stepped overstepped so many times he felt like he had earned to bite back. At least for this one time. He would take this one opportunity to get what he needed off his chest without speaking a single word of everything he had wanted to bark at the idiot. 

I don't need blades to let this arsehole know how I feel about him and his condescending jabs and mocking words. I will put him in his place without saying a fucking thing. He thought as fury boiled up inside of him, thinking of everything Hagan had done. He urged Mae to leave me for dead in the road, tried to have me shunned and thrown out from the Guild's protection and when that failed; he relentlessly bullied me whenever he got the chance. He thought as he relieved the memory of when they had 'sparred' with everyone as witness. He had been forced to fight when he could barely stand, all because this little shit needed to prove himself in front of the others.