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Chapter Twenty-One

The room was tense, as the beastmen and knights were in a standoff. The wild princess had made a move, and both sides were waiting to see who would make the second move.

Ghajs eyes had been narrowed and were now wide with surprise. I kept my blade hand steady, secretly desiring to take one of his eyes with me. "I beg you to make a quick choice for me, Sir; your men are growing tense, as are mine."

My words shook him from the shock of my title, and he growled, baring his sharp canines at me. "Your choice, pretty girl, but I'll take my pound of flesh from your face when you're through."

I smiled and, withdrawing my blade, I brought it down, slamming it into his shoulder. "I see. Then it would be foolish of me to let you out of this place alive."

"Stop," Kal shouted, trying to break past my wall of knights. "Please, let my brother go. Have grace, Your Highness," he cried.

I twisted the knife in Ghaj's shoulder and leaned in. "And why should I do that?"

A large hand shot up and grabbed my wrist so tight it felt like it would break, but I refused to retreat. "Give me a good reason to forgive your flea-bitten brother, wolf boy!"

"I-I," he fumbled over his words trying to find something.

I smirked, and I leaned in, ignoring the pain in my wrist. Ghaj's eyes dilated as he caught the malice in my eyes. "I guess I'll take both of your golden orbs for my desk."

"Wait! Wait, please. I-I offer myself; I'll give myself instead of my brother," Kal shouted, fighting against Dalton, who kept him back.

I brought my knee up and hit Ghaj in the sweet spot the minute he said this. A sharp exhale told me I'd hit my mark, and the rough hand gripping my wrist loosened. Yanking the knife out of his shoulder, I spun around and widened my arms with a foolish grin.

"Ah, exactly what I wanted." With a short laugh, I walked over to Daltons' side and looked up at the alcohol-soaked wolf beast men and his bleary gaze. "Since you've offered yourself to me, there won't be any takebacks. But in celebration of you becoming my new pet, what gift do you want? It can be anything."

While the rude Ghaj leaned against the wall, trying to recover from the pain in his balls and shoulder, his men hurried to his side, seeking to offer help.

Kal stared down at me ( he is very tall), those sharp brown eyes darkening before he finally said what I'd hoped he would say. "You're a princess; that's a higher rank than a lord, right?"

I flicked the blood on my blade off and shoved it in my boot with a callous laziness. "Of course, a lord could only dream of meeting me, especially one from this far away duchy,"

"Then," he paused, biting his lower lips. "Then, in favor of becoming your ...pet, could you help me save my son?'

"Are you sure that's what you want? Me, to save your son? What if I decide if I like him more than you?"

He shuddered butt when he glanced at Baros, Dalton, and Cirilo, refacing me, his expression hardened. "You don't seem to treat your pets wrong; I much rather my son be a groomed and well-taken care of dog than a beaten and humiliated wolf."

I smirked, "Then, I'll take your deal. You and your son will become mine."

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