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the core. He reinforced Danyl's fear about his worth with those hateful words. "She loved
you," he choked out. "Right up to her death, she loved you."
Ancelin leveled a bored gaze on Danyl. He took a deep breath, settling himself
against the outpouring of rage he showed a few seconds ago. "We fucked a few times.
There was no love there."
"Don't say that Ancelin. For gods' sake, tell me that you loved her even a little."
Di's heart broke to listen to this exchange. For as much animosity he showed toward
Ancelin, his strangled voice and labored breathing belied how deeply these words cut
him. One look at the shadows on Danyl's face, at his red-rimmed eyes, stabbed her like a
knife.
"Tell me," he continued, "tell me that when you killed her, you regretted it even the
tiniest amount."
Ancelin steepled his fingers together before resting them on his lips. A long stretch
of silence passed where he studied the merman. He exhaled loudly. "So, this is why you
are here? You think I killed your mother?"
"I know you did."
Ancelin stepped forward two paces. His eyes narrowed. "And if I did? So. What."
Time stood still then. The thunderous beat of her heart was the only sound she knew.
Her mind slowed, her actions not fast enough. She knew what would happen next and
had a feeling so did Ancelin.
Danyl charged.
Ancelin's head snapped back when Danyl's fist crashed into it. He held nothing back
as he pummeled his father's head and torso, venting all of his penned-up anger. "You
bastard," he growled between breaths and punches. "She loved you & she loved you!"
Not to be outdone, Ancelin brought two fists together and swung them at his son.
Danyl managed to duck, but caught a blow to his ribs on Ancelin's back swing. "You, my
boy& " A loud crack echoed when Ancelin swung and brought another fist down on
bone. "Are the bastard."
Danyl cried out and doubled over. He held an arm over his head, trying to block the
next blow, but clearly he was on the defensive. Ancelin kicked and a sickening crunch
and spray of blood indicated the breaking of Danyl's nose.
There was no way she would just stand there and do nothing. Di scrambled forward
and let her foot fly. She caught Ancelin unsuspecting in the center of his balls, and
listened with cheerful glee to his enraged squeal.
Whirling on her feet, she dropped beside Danyl while his father recovered. Asshole.
She should have stood over him and stomped on the family jewels until he passed out.
Instead, she had to focus on Danyl. This was no evenly matched fight and he would lose
if he insisted on getting back up.
"Come on baby, we've got to go. You can't win this." She ducked beneath his arm,
trying to bear some of his weight. He pushed her away for her effort.
"I can and I will," he said hoarsely. Turning his head to the side, he spat out a wad of
mucus and blood. Unsteadily, he rose to his feet. "Father!"
Ancelin eyed him from the ground, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. Wild-
eyed, he volleyed his glare between them both as he stood. He rubbed his testicles in a
lewd manner. "Your mate is well chosen, Danyl."
"Simeona was a good woman, too, and deserved better."
"She was a whore."
Damn it. His father knew how to push every single button on his son. Danyl weaved
forward, his face twisted into a hateful mask. It didn't matter though. Ancelin had fewer
injuries to tend and threw a fist into Danyl's sternum. Thank God he dodged it and
brought his arm around in a swing that had the power of the universe behind it. The blow
landed on Ancelin's jaw and his head whipped around from the force.
Her heart in her throat, Di watched the fight and knew it would not end well. Ancelin
was the more seasoned fighter and brought wisdom and dirty moves. Danyl only had
righteous indignation and youth behind him.
Somehow Ancelin managed get behind to wrap an arm around his son's neck. He
tightened until Danyl's face reddened, his hands scrambling for purchase, trying to loosen
the grip blocking his airway. Unamused laughter wheezed out of Ancelin. "I haven't had
to get my hands dirty like this in more than a century."
Throwing his elbow back, Danyl crushed Ancelin's testicles again, and Di almost
winced in sympathy. He'd be resting those things on ice for the next week. His pained
surprise gave Danyl a reprieve and he slid from beneath Ancelin's slackened hold. In a
quick coordinated effort, he chopped Ancelin in the throat, and then backhanded him.
They separated and Danyl gasped unevenly, still trying to get his wind back. Already
Di could see him get ready to charge again. So did Ancelin.
"Enough!" Ancelin roared.
"Enough old man?" Danyl taunted back. He rushed forward. "I'm only just
beginning." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]