Archaic (Reverse Harem 2)

“Warriors!”

Every single one of them draws their blades and stations them over their heads.

“Kill,” Igo purrs.

Chapter 27

~ Clarissa

Ican feel Sebastian’s claws digging into the meat of my side. But for some reason, I’m not bleeding. There is no pain or agony or anger. Simply obedience. A strong, relentless need to hone in on his voice. The sound of his heart beating against his chest. The feel of his claws embedding deeper into my muscles. I am staring into the eyes of Igo. The man who ordered my husband’s death. The man who is willing to wipe out any Primal from the planet that

doesn’t fall in line with his teachings. His way of life. His own order.

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He is responsible for this.

Sebastian is right.

Slowly, my body morphs back into a human. The warriors are charging everyone, and I’m standing naked in the middle of the room. I listen to their movements. To the patterns their feet make along the floor. I dodge their attacks as Sebastian stays by my side, batting men off me and the Councilmen behind us. My anger is turning to fear. We are easily outnumbered three-to-one.

Everywhere I turn, a spear is coming down at me. Or eyes are raking across my body. Or someone is making some snide comment about my purpose in life.

It makes me sick.

With each swipe I make, my claws get longer. Stronger. More resilient. Blood is dripping down my arms as Sebastian stays by my side, falling in sync with my steps as we work our way around the room. Theo is pinning men to walls and physically throwing them down the dark hallways. Toshi is luring them into dark corners before pouncing on their bodies.

My eyes train themselves onto Igo as I sink my claws into one of his warrior’s chests.

Then, my eyes drift over his shoulder.

“Gus! It’s me! Penny. Don’t you recognize me?”

I see a short, spindly man. With a twitching nose and a katana high above his head. And Penny, standing in front of him, with her hands on his chest and her eyes widening with each second that passes.

My ears train onto their conversation as Igo wraps his hand around my neck.

“Such ferocity,” Igo says. “You will make a beautiful queen.”

“She’s going nowhere with you,” Sebastian growls.

“Gus,” Penny says breathlessly. “Look at this. Look at what you’re doing. I know you can hear me. I know you can see me.”

I watch her stand onto her tiptoes and press her lips to his, and for a moment I think she has him. As Igo lifts me off my feet, dangling me in midair, I see the love she has for Gus in her eyes. I can smell the want she has for him. The years of loneliness she’s experienced, squashed the second her eyes lay upon his.

Then I watch him bring the katana down, piercing her skull as she falls to her knees.

“No!” I roar.

I feel myself falling to the ground as Sebastian’s howl rises above my screaming.

“Penny!”

I look up from the floor as the fighting moves all around me.

Theo with his massive form breaking backs on the ground and Toshi with his cunning smile dragging warriors into the dark to meet their doom. Swords clashing and Councilmen calling out for help from the guards and Sebastian tearing into Igo’s body with his teeth.

All I can watch, however, is blood trickle down Penny’s forehead as Gus releases his sword.