Berrr looked really unhappy as he stared at Shanna with narrowed eyes. “She will kill you without mercy because you are smaller and weaker. This is no insult to your pride, my Shanna. It is a fact.”

“Let me fight for my freedom or turn around now and walk away from me, Berrr.

I’ll go home with Vinlotti in the morning and I won’t ever see you again. I refuse to be with a man who’d rather hand me over to someone else than give me a chance to save my own ass. Your hands are tied. I get that but mine aren’t.” Berrr growled, raising his hands to glance at them and then her.

“It’s a saying,” Shanna sighed. “I know your hands aren’t really tied. It means you’re out of options but I’m not. Trust me when I tell you I’m mad enough at that bitch to fight her. She set me up to be gang raped by that hairy ape and your other friends. I know you think humans don’t stand a chance against a Zorn but I was doing pretty well with your house helpers until they ganged up on me six to one. I’ve met Alluwn and I know she’s a tough bitch, tougher than your house helpers are, but don’t do this to me, damn it. Don’t let me get raped or handed off to another guy who admits openly that he’s going to try to fuck me just because you are a male chauvinist pig about some things.”

His frown deepened. “She will kill you.”

“At least I won’t be raped. I’d rather take my chances in a fight so I have a fair shot at defending myself one on one.” Glaring at him now, Shanna took a deep breath. “This is your last chance at keeping me, Berrr. I am asking your permission to challenge Alluwn the way your fucked-up laws require.”

Vinlotti moved closer to Shanna. “She did get away from Ssshal and she moves fast, Berrr. If given the choice if I were a woman I’d rather fight as well.” Berrr snarled, turning away, his rage making his body visibly tremble. He gave a jerk of his head. “I accept.” He suddenly spun back around to face Shanna, his angry gaze locking on her. “You better win, my Shanna. I hope that you are as tough as you keep telling me humans are.”

Shanna nodded, relieved that he’d agreed. “Just let me at that bitch.”

“Zorn women fight unfair,” Vinlotti warned softly. “It’s body fighting against body fighting, no weapons allowed. Those are the only rules. She can use her teeth against you so watch her mouth. Most Zorn women go for the eyes of another woman to blind them so they can kill them easier or in Alluwn’s case, toy with you to taunt Berrr.” Shanna turned her head, staring up at the beautiful dark-skinned man. The fear of fighting Alluwn started to settle in but she nodded at him, letting him know she heard him. “Thank you. I’ll watch her mouth and my face.” Berrr growled. “Please reconsider, my Shanna. I do not want to bury you.” Anger returned almost instantly as Shanna snapped her head in his direction.

“Your lack of faith in me is starting to piss me off. Let’s get this show on the road. What happens next?”

Berrr looked enraged again as he turned for the door. “We find Alluwn, tell her I accepted your offer of challenge, and then we take it to a judge who has to agree to the fight. You both will be taken to the arena where you will face off with her if the judge approves.”

Berrr just stormed out the door. Shanna stood there stunned for a second before a large hand gripped her arm, startling her, making her turn her head to glance up at Vinlotti. He looked grim.

“He is worried about your life and very angry that it has come to this. I would be furious as well in his position. We are very protective of our women and I would be insane right now if you were mine, realizing you were going to have to fight to stay in my bed. It goes against all we are to allow our women to fight for us. We need to follow him.”

Shanna’s feet moved as the large man steered her for the door, both of them following a slow-moving Berrr toward the center of the house where he went in search of Alluwn. Berrr never turned his head to check if they were following or not, his body language clear that he was still enraged. Alluwn was in the kitchen, her voice loud as she yelled at one of the poor house helpers cooking dinner.

“I do not know where my bound found you,” Alluwn snarled loudly. “But he should have left you there. Do I have to show you how to prepare a meal properly for honored warriors? They come from far away to stay in the Hyvin’s home and they expect quality food served to them. You are a—”

“Alluwn,” Berrr snarled harshly. “Leave her alone and face me.” Shanna walked into the kitchen in time to see Alluwn spin around, looking furious as she glared at Berrr. “Never order me around the way you do your house helpers,” the woman hissed. Her attention turned to the doorway, spotting Shanna and Vinlotti, her anger increasing. “She is expected in the guest quarters by Ssshal. I’ll inform him myself that he may have her now.” Alluwn attempted to storm past Berrr.

Berrr’s hand shot out lightning fast, reaching out to grab Alluwn’s arm to stop her.

“You will not.”

A mean smile curved the woman’s mouth and her dark eyes narrowed in pure glee.

“You can’t protect your pathetic human. You should have hidden her better when I arrived. I will take great enjoyment watching you suffer knowing that other males are going to mount your new toy.” The woman tried to jerk out of Berrr’s hold but he refused to release her arm. Pure rage filled her features. “House helper, go inform the guests now that the human is in the kitchen waiting to be mounted. Go now!” The house helper gasped and then ran for the door, terrified by Alluwn’s yelling at her. The frightened house helper nearly slammed into Vinlotti who was in her way, barely missing him, and fled the room. Shanna didn’t look away from the couple glaring at each other. Berrr took a deep breath.

“My toy has issued a challenge and I have accepted.” Berrr softly growled. “She challenges your place as bound.”

Alluwn laughed. “Your sense of humor has improved greatly over the years I have been gone, my bound.”

Berrr growled, releasing her arm roughly, stepping back. “The challenge is real, unfortunately, and you have left me with no other choice but to accept it. She would rather face you in a fight to the death than be mounted by other males.” Berrr took another deep breath. “If you let her live I will give you my vow to do whatever you wish.” He gritted his teeth, his voice sounded as rough as gravel as it lowered. “I will bow to you in front of my warriors and take that shame if you do not kill her, Alluwn.” Shanna was instantly pissed off even knowing he was doing it to save her life but the fact that he had so little faith in her made her mad and it hurt. “Don’t you dare,” she said softly. “Berrr?”