Free DarykCraving by Denise A. Agnew

Aknada or the other woman. “Aknada is all
woman. And she’s all Daryk One. The only place she belongs is where she wants
to be. You are a fucking cretin. I’ll stand between the woman and you as well.
Get the fuck off my property and never come here again.”
    “I’ll leave with my wife or not at all.”
    “You will not touch this woman again.” Aknada practically
hissed the words.
    “Do you want to stay with this man?” Marc asked the
cowering, small woman. “You may stay here as long as you like in safety and
peace.”
    The small woman on the floor sprang up. “No. Don’t hurt my
husband. I’ll go with him.”
    Aknada’s face creased with additional anger. “What?”
    The woman passed Aknada and reached out for the man. “I must
do as he bids. He’s my husband and master.”
    The man grabbed his wife’s forearm and tugged her to him.
“See. This bitch knows where she belongs.”
    With that, the man marched from the room with the woman in
tow.
    Aknada started after them, but Marc’s voice rang out.
“Aknada, stop.”
    She halted but swung on him with a vicious glare. “He’s
taking her away. He’s going to hurt her.”
    “Probably.”
    “Probably? Probably?” Her eyes practically threw sparks as
she marched toward him. She still held her sword, and for one moment he
wondered if her anger were so high she’d lash out with her weapon. “Are you
mad? Why didn’t you stop him from leaving with her?”
    “Because she has a right to make her own decisions. We have
no hold over her. If she chooses to go with him, it is her right. I would not force
her to stay here.”
    “You are letting that woman go to her doom. Just like you
did me. You let me go.”
    He could not believe she had just said that, and it burned
in his gut like acid. “What did you say?”
    She stomped toward him, looking even more beautiful if that
were possible. Her hair was mussed, her eyes blazed. Her lips were red and
parted, her face harsh with anger. “You said so yourself. You let me go. You
did not speak out when you had the chance.”
    His mouth twisted as matching anger boiled in his blood. “So
you didn’t forgive me. You lied about that too.”
    “I didn’t lie to you the other night. It was ill worded. I
did not say what I really meant and you overreacted.”
    “I know I did. And yet you still left. You aren’t fighting
for what we have between us, Aknada. You are letting your past dictate every
step.”
    She was close to him now, still clutching her sword and
looking ready to give him more hells. “So I am supposed to excuse you for
taking my words and meaning and twisting it the other night? I thought you told
me that we were a mistake. That what we could have together is a mistake. You
cannot have it both ways, Marc. You either want me or you do not. How do I know
I can trust you?” Her words were lashing and harsh. “You let that woman go to
her death, and you know it.”
    “We cannot save everyone, Aknada, no matter how much you
want to.”
    Frustration twisted her mouth. “Why?”
    “It’s not possible. There are too many.” He stuffed one hand
through his hair and groaned. “By the god, Aknada, you have always cared too
much. You have labored for days now, doing everything you can to help people.
At some point you cannot save people from themselves. In the end, the only
person you can save is yourself. Leave some bloody happiness for yourself.”
    Though his words came out strong and steady with the intent
to calm, it had the opposite effect.
    “Damn you.” She almost hissed the words, and then she moved.
    Her sword came up and he reacted in an instant, holding his
sword in front of him. Their blades came within a hair’s breadth of touching.
    They stared at each other, breathing coming fast. Her eyes
blazed into his as tension tightened. He knew they’d come to a point that would
either break them or save them.
    “Fight me if it will make you feel better,” he said.
    “I should.”
    “If