“I challenge to mount her first,” Vinlotti said softly. “That I can do, Ssshal.” He growled deep, the rumble sound scary. “Concede your first call or fight me for it. I am in a mood for a good fight.”

Shanna could see Ssshal’s face. The man looked furious but he also looked a little nervous. His black eyes narrowed, his hairy fists clenched at his side, and then he snarled, turning away to stalk a few feet away before spinning back around to glare at Vinlotti.

“I call second.”

Shanna didn’t know if she should feel relief or more horror. She thought Vinlotti was saving her but instead he was ready to fight to get to fuck her first? Shock rolled through her as he turned around. Her stunned gaze flew up to stare into a pair of beautiful blue eyes. He winked at her and then held out his hand to her.

“Come with me, human. I get to mount you first and then Ssshal can have you.” Shrinking back against the wall, pressing her back to it tightly, she shook her head frantically. “I thought you were Berrr’s friend and he doesn’t want me touched.” Beautiful blue eyes narrowed as the man stared down at her with a frown. “Trust me, human. Take my hand and come to my room with me now.” Something in his eyes got through her panic and she reached out to him with a shaking hand. His large hand was warm and gentle as he gripped hers, turning to glare at the other men as he started to walk. Shanna’s legs didn’t want to work right so she was yanked forward, almost stumbling, half pulled, half dragged through the large room to another hallway.

Vinlotti opened a door and dragged her through it only to release her hand when they were in the large bedroom. Shanna spun around, staring up at the big alien while she backed away from him. He slammed the bedroom door closed, shutting both of them inside his room.

“Relax, human,” Vinlotti leaned against the door, crossing his arms over his chest, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. “I have no intention of mounting you.” He said the words softly. “I just needed to get you away from them until we can think of a plan.”

Shanna stopped backing away and her knees went weak in relief. “Thank you. I thought…” She swallowed. “Just thank you. What do we do? Can you get me out of here and back to Berrr’s son’s house? I was at Rever’s when Berrr’s guards came to get me to tell me that Berrr wanted me home but it was that conniving bitch Alluwn who sent them.”

He shook his head. “They will be watching for that if they are smart at all and Ssshal is deviously minded. He knows how close I am to Berrr and he knows that Berrr didn’t want you mounted by anyone. He and Alluwn come from the same district and grew together as children so he was probably the one to think of her plan to get revenge. He is jealous of Berrr and always has been.” His eyes swept over her. “You are very fortunate that I came back when I did. Berrr was suspicious when not all of his guests arrived at the meeting, wondering what they were up to, so he sent me in search of them.”

Fear crept inside Shanna again. “I’m shocked Ssshal let you take me out of there then.”

“He knows I have a right to challenge him to mount you first and he doesn’t want to fight me. We trained together and I always won our challenges we fought together.

They will be outside waiting for me to finish with you.” He sighed, pushing away from the door, and walked to one of the large windows without curtains to stare out it. “It is hours until Berrr should be done.”

“Will they come in here after me?” Shanna stared at the man’s back, which he kept to her as he continued to stare out the window.

He shrugged. “I am not sure. It depends on the other Vartas who Alluwn has given permission to mount you and how impatient Ssshal is to have you second.”

“Let’s make a run for it then.”

“No.” He slowly turned, his beautiful blue eyes roaming over Shanna’s body from head to foot and then their gazes locked together. “We will stay here. I am a Zorn warrior so I don’t run away from a fight. If they come into my room I will fight and you will go hide in the bathroom.”

“That’s a really bad plan since you’re outnumbered and can’t win.” The man shrugged. “Berrr and I are very close and he would do the same to protect my woman.” He turned back around to stare out the window. “We will wait and see what happens.”

“Fuck that,” Shanna muttered, her eyes searching the room. “You wait while I’m going to even out the odds.”

Vinlotti turned, his bright red eyebrow arched. “What are you planning to do? They will either grow impatient, coming in here to get you and then face my wrath or they will not. There is nothing to prevent it except hope that I can hold them off until my friend Berrr returns. Even then I don’t know of a plan to save you from what his bound has done. Laws are laws even for a Hyvin and from what I understand she offered you up for the use of his guests. He has to honor what she has done.” Shanna stared at the man in shock. “What?”

He nodded. “As his bound she offered you to his guests. He will have to honor what his bound does and with you as a house helper Berrr has no right to defend you from the men he’s invited into his home as honored guests. She really outmaneuvered him this time.”

“If that’s true and Berrr can’t stop those men from hurting me, why did you just save my ass?”

A grin split his features. “That is what friends do and Berrr will appreciate the gesture I made. I want him to send me a human if he comes across a stray one. He would do no less by attempting to save my woman. He will at least be here to make sure they don’t harm you even if he can’t stop them from using your body. I will stay with him to keep him from killing them, restraining him if I must, while they mount you, for he will be arrested if he kills a guest of his home.”

“Your laws are so fucked up.” Shanna felt sick and horrified.

The big man nodded. “I agree but that is how it is. Berrr has changed many of them but he can only go so far before the displeasure of the public could put his family in harm. He picks his battles with the laws but unfortunately the way of house helpers is not something that will be allowed to change. Our women can’t handle an adult male alone and while traveling it would be impossible to bring our own house helpers with us so access to a host’s house helpers is a must. It’s been this way for thousands of years.”