before her for numerous unguarded moments, and she hadn’t even reached for the small weapon tucked in her bra.
He would fight, and he might die. She had to consider her own life now as well. If he perished—she shuddered at the thought—she would have no protection. There had to be another option, for both of them. “Please, Damon. Let me leave. I don’t want to witness this violence, or your potential death. I don’t want you to die for any reason, but least of all because of me.”
He laughed then and his mouth fused to hers again. This kiss was different, frantic, his hands covering her body in harsh, angry movements that scared her. The gentleness from only a moment before disappeared. In its place, she sensed desperation, primitive instinct and base need. This was the jungle man she’d feared. Immune to, or uncaring of, her futile struggles. This was Maglayo.
What had she said to anger him? When she finally managed to push him away, he stared at her, his chest moving in harsh cadence with his stilted breaths. Then without a word, he left.
Her legs shook violently, weak from the remaining traces of the snake’s bite and the emotions his departure created. She dropped to the cot, exhausted. This was too much for her. For him. Damon, Maglayo. Did he even recognize the difference between the two? Was there a difference? She dropped her head to her hands. “Please be safe.”
“He will be safe when you are gone.”
Myla jumped as Michelle’s voice intruded from the rear of the hut. The older woman moved farther into the shadowed interior, her features drawn and pale.
Myla stood and walked to her. “What can I do? I begged him to let me leave, but he refused.”
Michelle shoved a small leather bag into her hands. “Take this and follow the sun’s direction as it holds now. Even when it shifts in the sky, you must stay close to the direction in which you began. If you do as I say, you will find the freedom you want.”
She glanced at the front entrance. “Go, quickly. I will stop the fight tonight and explain that Damon has killed you. This will make it possible for him to gain Tinjtol’s trust and it will save him from death or banishment.”
“Are you certain this will work?” She understood Damon’s reluctance to trust. In that moment, she grasped his indecision more than ever. “My leaving won’t cause more trouble, will it?”
Anger crinkled Michelle’s eyes. “You stupid girl. Don’t you realize this is beyond you? Tinjtol will try to kill my son, and he will probably succeed. You do more harm in remaining. Go. You must be gone before I can hope to stop what will surely happen.”
Myla bit her lip and slung the bag over her shoulder so it rested on her hip. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Come, this way.” Michelle hurried to the rear of the hut and pulled back a hidden flap. “Hurry.”
Myla stared at the sunlight creasing through the narrow opening. Hesitation could make the difference in her freedom. She could only hope she made the right choice. This was what she’d wanted. Now, she wanted him to be safe as well.
She met Michelle’s gaze. “Tell him I’ve given him another option.”
Chapter Six
Damon stood motionless.
He would not give Tinjtol the satisfaction of witnessing his regret for this confrontation. Still, to fight his brother without attempting to change what would end in one of their deaths was unthinkable. He held his hand up to silence the onlookers. “Brother Tinjtol, we can settle this another way. Withdraw your challenge and we will sit with the elders this night, as brothers, as equals.”
Tinjtol stalked forward, the sheath of his knife strapped to his lean thigh. Dark ceremonial markings crossed his chest and stomach. Every muscle bunched, ready for the fight Damon sensed he had always wanted.
His sadistic laughter filled the clearing. “You would have us sit again, Maglayo? For what?” He waved a hand around to the assembled people.
He would fight, and he might die. She had to consider her own life now as well. If he perished—she shuddered at the thought—she would have no protection. There had to be another option, for both of them. “Please, Damon. Let me leave. I don’t want to witness this violence, or your potential death. I don’t want you to die for any reason, but least of all because of me.”
He laughed then and his mouth fused to hers again. This kiss was different, frantic, his hands covering her body in harsh, angry movements that scared her. The gentleness from only a moment before disappeared. In its place, she sensed desperation, primitive instinct and base need. This was the jungle man she’d feared. Immune to, or uncaring of, her futile struggles. This was Maglayo.
What had she said to anger him? When she finally managed to push him away, he stared at her, his chest moving in harsh cadence with his stilted breaths. Then without a word, he left.
Her legs shook violently, weak from the remaining traces of the snake’s bite and the emotions his departure created. She dropped to the cot, exhausted. This was too much for her. For him. Damon, Maglayo. Did he even recognize the difference between the two? Was there a difference? She dropped her head to her hands. “Please be safe.”
“He will be safe when you are gone.”
Myla jumped as Michelle’s voice intruded from the rear of the hut. The older woman moved farther into the shadowed interior, her features drawn and pale.
Myla stood and walked to her. “What can I do? I begged him to let me leave, but he refused.”
Michelle shoved a small leather bag into her hands. “Take this and follow the sun’s direction as it holds now. Even when it shifts in the sky, you must stay close to the direction in which you began. If you do as I say, you will find the freedom you want.”
She glanced at the front entrance. “Go, quickly. I will stop the fight tonight and explain that Damon has killed you. This will make it possible for him to gain Tinjtol’s trust and it will save him from death or banishment.”
“Are you certain this will work?” She understood Damon’s reluctance to trust. In that moment, she grasped his indecision more than ever. “My leaving won’t cause more trouble, will it?”
Anger crinkled Michelle’s eyes. “You stupid girl. Don’t you realize this is beyond you? Tinjtol will try to kill my son, and he will probably succeed. You do more harm in remaining. Go. You must be gone before I can hope to stop what will surely happen.”
Myla bit her lip and slung the bag over her shoulder so it rested on her hip. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”
“Come, this way.” Michelle hurried to the rear of the hut and pulled back a hidden flap. “Hurry.”
Myla stared at the sunlight creasing through the narrow opening. Hesitation could make the difference in her freedom. She could only hope she made the right choice. This was what she’d wanted. Now, she wanted him to be safe as well.
She met Michelle’s gaze. “Tell him I’ve given him another option.”
Chapter Six
Damon stood motionless.
He would not give Tinjtol the satisfaction of witnessing his regret for this confrontation. Still, to fight his brother without attempting to change what would end in one of their deaths was unthinkable. He held his hand up to silence the onlookers. “Brother Tinjtol, we can settle this another way. Withdraw your challenge and we will sit with the elders this night, as brothers, as equals.”
Tinjtol stalked forward, the sheath of his knife strapped to his lean thigh. Dark ceremonial markings crossed his chest and stomach. Every muscle bunched, ready for the fight Damon sensed he had always wanted.
His sadistic laughter filled the clearing. “You would have us sit again, Maglayo? For what?” He waved a hand around to the assembled people.
Similar Books
