Misery was apparent on his face and mirrored in his beautiful blue eyes as Shanna stared up into them. She frowned, not knowing what his plan was but knowing that whatever it was he was anything but happy about it. A horrible thought struck her.

Would he have to let those men rape her? She didn’t even want to think about that horrific possibility.

“Zorn laws are clear, my Shanna. If I fight those men I will be breaking the laws that I have vowed to uphold.” He took a deep breath. “The only way to protect you from Alluwn’s vengeance is to give you to Vinlotti.” He took a shuddering breath, shaking as he held her tight. “No one can touch you if I give you to him solely and you will no longer be under my bound’s rule to give to other men to mount.” Shanna stared at him in horror, never expecting him to announce that in a million years. “Not for real, right? We’ll just say you’re giving me to him but once she’s gone he gives me back, right?” Her fingers clawed at his shirt. “Right, Berrr?” His jaw clenched as he lifted his gaze from hers to glare at his friend over her head.

“You would belong to him and the only way I could get you back is if he were willing to give you back to me once she is gone.”

Turning her head, she stared at Vinlotti. He looked as shocked as Shanna did while he stared at Berrr. The handsome Zorn took a step back and then froze, frown lines marring his features.

“I leave tomorrow and I can’t put off my return, Berrr. If your bound stays beyond today then I would have to take your human back to Voltos with me in the morning.

You know I am your friend but there is no way I could resist a woman for that long and we both know it. Don’t ask this of me, my friend, for I fear our friendship would end when I did give in to the lust. It was difficult enough for me to spend the past few hours smelling her without touching her and if I take her to my home I would have to put her in my own room to keep my brothers from going after her.”

Shanna shook her head. “I don’t want you so if you’re talking about sex, think again, Vinlotti.”

Berrr snarled. “That is the only option I can think of to save my Shanna. You’re a strong warrior who is in control of your body. I don’t want you mounting my woman.”

“Don’t ask this of me, Berrr.” Vinlotti growled back, looking furious. “It is too much to ask for you to wish me to take her home with me, sleep in the same room with her for days and not touch her. I am a strong warrior but I’m also a male with needs. She is too tempting.”

“Wait a minute,” Shanna jerked her head around to stare up at Berrr. “I have a better idea.”

Looking furious still, Berrr lowered his head to stare down at Shanna. “You don’t know Zorn laws or what is at stake. I can’t protect you and Alluwn has finally found a way to get her revenge by offering you up to my guests. If I fight them to stop them from mounting you after she offered you to them, I will be arrested and probably put to death. Alluwn would have you put to death as well so we would both die. As much as I hate it, I know Vinlotti won’t harm you and he will protect you.” Berrr was shaking with fury as he lifted his head to glare at his friend. “If you mount her we will fight to the death.” Baring his teeth, Berrr snarled. “She is mine.” Vinlotti snarled back. “Don’t ask this of me, my friend. I am warning you now that you are asking the impossible. If you send her home with me it will be a matter of time before I lose control.”

“Stop it,” Shanna gripped Berrr’s shirt hard, her fingers fisting it again, clawing at the leather. “I said I have another idea. Down here, Berrr. Look at me, damn it.” Berrr snapped his chin down, eyes narrowing as he softly growled. “There is no other way, my Shanna.”

“Yes, there is.” Shanna took a deep breath. “I think there is anyway. You don’t have to share your bound with other men right? Just house helpers?” Berrr gave a nod, his beautiful eyes looking furious as their gazes locked together.

“Alluwn is safe from them unfortunately. It would be fitting if she could suffer the fate she wishes you to face.”

Nodding, Shanna stared into his eyes. “I am officially asking your permission to challenge Alluwn to be your bound then. If I fight that bitch and win then she’s out of our lives, I’m your bound, and those men can’t touch me, right?” Shock swept across Berrr’s features but then his mouth opened as he sucked in air.

He got control of his reaction in seconds, deeply frowning, and shook his head no. “She would kill you for sure. You are human.”

“Is it hand-to-hand fighting or are weapons allowed?” Berrr was frowning, glaring at Shanna, refusing to answer her question.

“Hand to hand,” Vinlotti said softly. “It would be in front of witnesses to show fairness after one of our law judges approved the challenge. If you beat her then Alluwn would be sent far away if you allowed her to live and you would win the right to be bound to Hyvin Berrr if he accepted you as his bound.”

“No,” Berrr growled. “I won’t allow you to challenge Alluwn.” Shanna shoved hard at Berrr, pushing away from him. He released her as she backed away, her heart taking a solid hit. Blinking back tears, she turned her back on the man she loved, forcing herself to look at Vinlotti as she walked closer to him and away from Berrr.

“I guess I’m all yours then, Vinlotti.” She turned her head to look at Berrr. “He won’t be returning me to you so if he mounts me or not won’t be an issue anymore since I’m never coming back. I don’t want to be with a man who cares more about another woman than he does about me.”

Rage was easy to read on Berrr’s features. “You are all I want, Shanna. That is not why I have rejected your challenge.”

She turned fully around to face him, keeping a good eight feet between them. “Then you just think I’m too pathetic and weak as a human to fight that bitch. You just don’t have any faith in me at all that I might win, do you, Berrr? You’d rather send me away with one of your friends who admits he’s going to fuck me than let me make my own choice about my life. I hate all the options but it’s my choice and I choose to fight over being raped. Do you understand that? If you don’t let me fight for my freedom, since that’s obviously what it’s going to take to get me out of this mess, then I don’t ever want to see you again. I’ll make a life with Vinlotti here or someone else who might have a little faith in me.”