"It seems I picked the right one," the rogue leader said, curling his lips into a mischievous smile.
"You are bleeding!" Mia’s face contorted in a frown as her gaze landed on his wound.
"I said, let her go!" Ray commanded, ignoring her concern.
The rogue, however, had other plans. Without warning, he dropped his mouth to Mia’s neck, sucking on her skin in a revolting manner.
"Bastard! Let go!" Mia shrieked, her body tensing. Though she longed to struggle, she knew better—one wrong move, and his blade would slit her throat. Instead, she clenched her fists, forcing herself to endure the vile sensation.
Ray’s anger flared. His fingers twitched around his sword as he fought the urge to act recklessly. Watching his mate being touched by another man ignited a fury he barely controlled.
"If you want her, get the other woman. I have no use for this one," the rogue finally said, pulling back from Mia’s neck.
She gasped in relief.
Ray didn’t respond, his gaze locked onto Mia. The rogue, irritated by his silence, was about to repeat himself when—
"Now!!" Ray bellowed.
Before the rogue could react, Mia ducked, narrowly avoiding his blade. In the sa instant, Ray’s sword plunged through the man’s chest.
Blood splattered across Mia. She gasped, turning just in ti to see the rogue collapse lifelessly at her feet. If she had been a second too late, that blade would have gone straight through her heart.
"The leader is dead!" One of the rogues cried, sending a wave of panic through his fellow rogues. Their morale shattered, and they began retreating.
"Let them go," Quinn ordered before his n could pursue. These rogues were weaker than he had expected, lacking both skill and strategy. Killing them further would only taint their honor.
Ray wasted no ti. He strode toward Mia, grabbed her wrist, and began dragging her away without so much as a word.
"Slow down!" She protested, struggling to match his pace.
He didn’t listen. His grip remained firm as he led her further from the others, his expression dark with anger.
Finally stopping, he turned on her. "Take my permission before doing anything here. I won’t let you be a setback."
Mia scoffed. "Setback? I was only trying to help! How was I being a setback?"
"You call that helping?!" He snapped. "I was distracted. If my n had been too, it could have given the enemy the upper hand."
Mia frowned. "How co you were distracted and they weren’t?"
Ray fell silent.
The realization struck him, he had just admitted sothing he hadn’t ant to. His jaw tightened, as though he wanted to take the words back, but it was too late.
"Is that all you understood from everything I just said?" He asked, attempting to change the subject.
"No. I am asking why you were distracted and they weren’t."
Silence settled between them.
As expected, he was undeniably drawn to her but refused to admit it. Otherwise, why would he be so angered by her fighting, when Belle had been allowed to battle without objection from Quinn?
"You don’t want to admit that you want , and that’s fine. But don’t take your frustration out on just because you can’t face how you feel. I almost died back there too, aren’t you at least worried about that first?" She asked.
Guilt struck him. He should have checked on her first, but... perhaps she was right. Perhaps he was afraid to admit it, and anger had been the only way he knew how to express himself.
Concerned, "You are bleeding a lot. Get yourself treated," she pointed out, her gaze dropping to his side before she turned and walked away.
As soon as she left, his strength gave way. He staggered, barely holding himself up, then pressed a hand to his wound, only to realize the bleeding was laced with sothing far worse. Poison.
His vision blurred with each step she took away from him. His body wavered, and before darkness could consu him, he called out, "Mia!" His voice held a desperation he had never allowed himself to show before. He only wished to tell her he was sorry before he lost consciousness.
At the last second, Mia spun around, eyes widening. "Ray!" She scread, running to him as her heart clenched at the sight of him collapsing.
Why had she left? She should never have walked away. She should have swallowed her anger. How was she supposed to live without her mate?
Terror raced through her veins as she fell to the ground beside him, cradling his body. Her anguished cry alerted the others, and in monts, warriors surrounded her.
"Help!" She shouted, tears spilling down her cheeks as she clutched him tightly.
Kay knelt beside them, his expression dark as he examined Ray’s wound. "He’s been poisoned," he announced grimly.
Mia’s heart clenched, and dread consud her as a thousand worst-case scenarios flooded her mind.
"Set up a tent imdiately," Kay ordered, turning to the warriors. They rushed to obey, moving swiftly to prepare a place for Ray.
"Carry him," he commanded another group.
Belle arrived just in ti, taking Mia’s arm and helping her to her feet as Ray was lifted away.
"Belle..." Mia choked, leaning her head on Belle’s shoulder.
Belle’s heart ached at the sight of her only family breaking down. She patted Mia’s back gently, offering quiet reassurance. "He will be fine."
Still, questions swirled in her mind. Who was Ray to Mia? Could he be the man Mia had once loved, the one who already had a mate? But Mia never lingered in the past. She would never shed tears over a man she no longer cared for. So, then... who was Ray to her?
Belle pushed the questions aside for now, focusing instead on walking Mia toward the tent where Ray was being taken.
"Wait outside. I will call you both if there’s any change," Quinn instructed once they reached the tent.
Mia exhaled shakily, longing to be at Ray’s side, but Belle gently urged, "Do not worry too much. He is stronger than you think. Let’s wait here."
Mia hesitated but eventually nodded, though the fear in her eyes remained.
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