The Crow King's Wife(86)

Madren started to reply but fell silent as a flurry of movement sounded from within the room and the door crashed shut in front of them with a resounding boom. Muffled curses echoed through the wooden door and Madren shoved his weight against it in a frantic effort to get inside. “Damn it!” He hissed through clenched teeth.

With growing alarm Zoelyn added her weight to the door and pushed her way into the room before Madren had a chance to move past her. Shade had been the obstruction holding the door closed she realized as she watched him stagger toward one of the walls. He seemed dazed and his jaw was hanging at an unnatural angle. Her gaze flashed quickly to the other side of the room in time to see Grim drawing his fist back. Neph was pinned against the wall, but judging by the bruise forming on Grim’s face he was giving as good as he was getting.

“No!” Zoelyn’s voice rose to nearly a scream as she sprinted across the room and launched herself at Grim’s upraised arm. He was already beginning the swing as she threw herself on him and her weight pulled his arm downward to crash into the stone wall rather than her brother’s face. Squirming frantically Zoelyn wrapped herself more tightly about his arm and braced both feet on Neph trying to force the two men apart. Snarls rose from the ground below her as the goblin launched itself onto Neph’s leg. Apparently it had decided that her actions were an invitation to join the fight. “Dray! Help me!” she bellowed as she tried to nudge the goblin back with one foot while still bracing Neph far enough away to keep him from striking Grim.

“What in the bloody hell is going on?” Madren demanded with the air of command in his voice once more. His words did no good though, both men were obviously too angry for simple conversation to satisfy them.

Dray had managed to get a firm hold on the goblin and was trying to pull it back, but it was taking all of his attention and she could feel the muscles of Grim’s arm tensing once more. She wouldn’t be able to hold him back and she knew it. She had one of his arms pinioned, but he was more than capable of throwing a solid punch with either arm.

There was a scuff of movement behind her, but she couldn’t spare her attention to see who it was coming to help. She doubted either Shade or Madren had the physical strength to break up the fight completely, but maybe with their help the men could at least be restrained. A hand moved gently past her to rest on Grim and she felt the muscles in his arm go slack at the touch. With a squeak she realized she was falling as Grim collapsed, but strong arms caught her before she could hit the floor. Neither Grim nor Neph were so fortunate however. Both had fallen boneless to the cold stone floor. Neph had the benefit of sliding down the wall, but Grim had hit hard. In a daze she stared up at Shade’s face and her eyes widened at the look of cold fury lighting his features. She had never seen him angry before and the sight was more terrifying than Neph’s temper had ever been.

He didn’t spare a glance for her as he gently sat her on her feet behind him and knelt before the two men. Calmly he turned both of their limp heads to face him and stared down at their dumbfounded faces. “I am so bloody sick of watching my friends attempt to kill each other and finally I’ve reached the end of my patience. I don’t have time for this kind of idiocy.” Shade began in a low voice with tightly restrained anger lacing each word. “You both consider me a * because I don’t participate in your male dominance crap. Well guess what? You are both lying helpless on your backs and as far as male dominance goes, you are both my bitches. I could kill you with the flick of a finger.” He traced a clawed finger across both of their throats to emphasis his words. “I’m not a complete ass though, and as much as I would like to simplify my life by doing so it’s because I’m pissed and I’m rational enough to realize that.” He pulled his hands back from them and leaned back on his heels. With a heavy sigh he rubbed his face and flexed his jaw as if testing it to see if it was fully healed. “I’m not sure exactly why you greeted me with a right hook Neph, but if you ever strike me again without warning you will wake up with the words Shade’s Bitch carved into your forehead. As for you Grim, while I do appreciate your support I can handle my friends. This is the third time today that you have torn into one of them, although the first two times it was only verbal assault. Where my enemies are concerned I am grateful for your support, but leave my god damn friends alone.” Shade’s last words came out as more of a snarl and he took another moment to rein his anger in. Letting out a long slow breath he pulled a hand down across his face much as a frustrated parent that was faced with a wayward toddler. “Neph may be a complete ass, but I am more than capable of handling him as you can see. I know you are frustrated and angry due to other circumstances, but if I can’t trust you, I will leave you behind.” He finished in a voice that was only a bit calmer.