“Speak for yourself!” Nikolai raged, “I had her first, while she was trained. I knew then she was to be mine. Why can’t you find another? And besides,” he grinned evilly, “I’ve marked her more permanently than could any collar.”
“No matter what you’ve done, brat,” and Alaric made the word a curse, “I had her first. I brought her into the firm. And she wore my collar before she wore your brand. I have not released her and will not release her. You have stolen and defaced my property.” As he spoke, the slight accent he typically had grew stronger, so that it matched that of the man he faced.
Nikolai laughed, “What do you intend to do about it? She is here now, and she is in my control. What can you do to change that?”
For answer, Alaric whirled and moved to the wall, removing th
