You Are Not Rejecting Me novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: A Blade in the Circle

Nia's POV

I was across the ring before I knew I had moved.

Owain had the knife flat against Idris's throat, and Idris's blood was soaking into the dirt under him.

Behind Owain, a huge black wolf had risen on three good legs.

Cadell did not growl.

He hit Owain from behind with his whole weight.

The knife skidded off Idris's skin and flew out of Owain's hand.

I dropped to my knees and caught it by the blade.

It cut me, and I did not feel it.

I threw it as hard as I could into the dark outside the torchlight.

Then I pressed both hands over the wound in Idris's side.

"Stay with me," I said.

He looked up at me.

His eyes were still gold.

"I'm all right," he said, faintly.

"You're not. Stay with me."

His blood ran hot between my fingers.

Behind me there was a terrible sound of bodies and teeth.

I did not turn around.

I heard Marigold run across the packed earth, and then her hands were on mine, steady and quick.

"I've sewn up a bull in worse shape," she said. "Keep pressing."

"Is he going to live?"

"He's going to live if you keep pressing."

The sound behind us stopped.

I looked up.

Cadell stood over Owain in human form, naked, with his scalp bandage soaked red.

Owain lay on his back in the dirt, bleeding from a dozen places.

Cadell had one boot on his chest.

"Do you yield?" Cadell said.

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