N Y X A R A
Ownership had a sound.
A single word, breathed against my face by a monster with gold in his eyes and claws at my throat. My body answered before fear could make me stupid.
I drove my knee up hard beneath Kaelor’s ribs and snapped my wrist sideways, letting the small blade hidden against my forearm slide into my palm.
His grip shifted—never tighter—and that half-breath of mercy was all the room I needed. I slashed for the pulse beating at the side of his throat.
He caught my wrist an inch from skin. His claws framed my bones, sharp enough to open me from palm to elbow, but they did not pierce.
His weight pinned me to the stone through smoke, spilled fruit, and the crushed sweetness of oranges split beneath my shoulder.
Heat rolled from him in waves. Blood and pine and po
