Free Oasis of Eden by Genella deGrey

obviously trying to play the hero.
    “Breaking her arms sounds like a good plan.” Havliah sneered and pulled Jade tighter against her body. Jade squeaked at the agonizing action, but from beneath Havliah’s hand, it wasn’t nearly loud enough to gain anyone’s attention outside of the tent-room.
    Lothar approached Jade and rubbed a strand of her hair between his fingers. “She would break your arms, she’s a heartless bitch.” Havliah hissed at him, but he continued. “I’m sure if you agree to come with me, we can escape together unharmed.”
    “Oh, Lothar, your sentimentality sickens me. Just take her.”
    “What the falk is going on here?” Eli’s voice boomed from the entrance, and without another word from anyone, he stepped forward, his fist connecting with Lothar’s face with a crack of skin against skin. Lothar sprawled upon the ground at the opposite side of the tent.
    Eli turned to Havliah. Fury darkened his features.
    Havliah gasped and released Jade. “It is Lothar. He commanded me to help him.”
    “You lying bitch!” Lothar said, his hand holding the side of his jaw. “You wanted to get the Omari into bed and bade me come to get the new Lambish out of the way.”
    Jade’s status in this camp, however temporary, needed to be put to rest here and now. “I am not a Lambish!” she yelled.
    “Such nonsense.” Havliah tisked. “I saw the way you were dressed, your swollen assets displayed to tempt all in your path.”
    Lothar rose from the ground. “Jealous, Havliah?”
    “Enough!” Eli boomed. “Get out of my tent, both of you. Havliah, pack your things. You are no longer welcome in Omari Amun.”
    “But—but I am helping Me-Ma serve at the feast tomorrow night!”
    Jade’s gaze shot to Eli’s face. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
    “Very well. You will leave the night after you help Me-Ma. Now get out.”
    Havliah spun on her heel, but as she past Jade, her hand raised, claw-like next to Jade’s cheek. Jade turned to the bitch, ready for an all-out brawl.
    Eli reached out and took Jade by the arm, pulling her out of the reach of Havliah. “If you value your life, Havliah, you will retract your nails.”
    “You will regret this. Neither she nor any of the other camp whores have the skills to please you!” she cried.
    “You’d best hold on to those skills. They’re all you have.”
    Hard on the heels of Havliah, Lothar tried to tip-toe past Eli. He flinched when the Omari spoke.
    “You know the penalties for entering a tent without the occupant’s permission in my camp.”
    Not meeting Eli’s scrutiny, Lothar continued slinking toward the door.
    “If it happens again I will break your jaw, and no one will fault me for it.”

 
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    Jade had been shaking with a curious intermingling of anger and fear ever since Lothar and Havliah were tossed from Eli’s presence.
    Eli’s host skills were in full swing, thank goodness. He’d shown her to his retiring room and made her comfortable with dozens of pillows and a soft, thin blanket. He’d ordered a meal from Me-Ma’s kitchen, then fed Jade in the quiet of his tent with an aching tenderness that further endeared him to her. Who’d have thought that big hulk of a man was capable of such affection? She felt her shattered nerves slowly return to normal as Eli continued to fuss over her.
    Trying to soothe the bruises while he cleared the meal dishes away, she rubbed her arms. “Too bad you can’t lock the door to your tent.” She gave him a half-hearted smile.
    From across the room, he sent her one of his funny looks, the ones he usually gave her just before conveying his confusion at her words. He tossed aside a drying cloth he’d used after washing his hands, and then poured two glasses of water.
    She shook her head at him in a subtle reprimand as he strode towards her. “You don’t have to be so serious, Eli. I’m not permanently damaged, you know.”
    “Drink this. You’ve hardly had anything