Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 13]

She gave the cage a final kick before she left, knocking my head back into the bars. I groaned and tried to kick back, an act of aggression I'd never dared show before for Lisa's sake. It caught Vernal by surprise, stubbing her toe.

"Ow! Son of a bitch!" Vernal brought her foot up, prepared to kick through the bars and into my face.

"Leave him alone!" Lisa suddenly cried, surging to the bars and my defence. "Haven't you done enough?"

"I've not done nearly enough." Vernal drove her foot down, aiming for my face. I shifted enough that it missed and hit my chest instead, then snapped a hand out to grab her belt through the bars. Vernal realised her mistake a second too late. "Shit!"

"DIE!" I screamed, dragging her in. Vernal's face collided with the bars and I grabbed her collar with my other hand, trying to pull her through the bars entirely.

—Forged Destiny [Book 7: Ch. 13]