“I took you in. I saved you.” Dick gasped as he fought for his life.
You didn’t save someone by whipping them.
Long, nasty scars mutilated my torso, the raised white edges a stark reminder of every beating.
“No, you beat me.”
Kill him.
He choked as I tightened and pulled harder at the belt around his neck.
It took forever to choke out a beta, and Dick’s neck was thicker than most, but the numb didn’t care.
I was in no rush.
All of a sudden, the tavern door slammed open. A person stood at the entrance.
I was startled by the unexpected noise, and the numb switched off. Sometimes that happened when I was surprised.
Now my emotions choked me and my side fucking hurt where Dick had slammed it.
A cloaked intruder stood in the doorway.
A blustery, icy wind blasted into the room and whipped his hooded garment.
“The oligarchy has received word that a twenty-year-old servant lives at this residence. New orders: all servants will also get tested at the sacred lake,” said a deep male voice.
It wasn’t a question.
The snowy wind howled behind the intruder, and he opened his cloak to flash a massive machine gun.
Technology didn’t work well in the freezing temperatures without help, which was why the gun glowed blue with fae enchantment.
I released Dick from my stranglehold.
I couldn’t kill him without getting blown to pieces, which really sucked.
Without preamble, the figure threw a warm cloak at me (that must be his thing), grabbed me around the neck, and shoved me out into the miserable cold.
Dick followed behind us silently as we crunched across the thick snow.
I thanked the moon goddess that I was wearing my thick boots.
It was winter, so the temperatures were well below freezing, and a mix of snowy hail pummeled through my threadbare jacket.
My bloody wounds burned my back, but I could feel the skin starting to scab slightly.
All null shifters could heal wounds within a couple of days’ time. The bleeding from my back injuries was already stopping, and I knew from experience that they would completely scar over in about three days.
Unlike ABOs, who didn’t scar, my weaker frame scarred awfully.
As the negative temperatures pricked my skin, it burned with the unnatural warmth of frostbite.
I shivered, but I would survive.
Unless an adult null shifter was trapped out in the cold all night, they’d live.
Visibility was shit, and the minutes passed in a blur of white.
