Horrified, Leith wiped his hand across his face. He couldn’t believe Forest had been capable of showing him such disrespect. He had forbidden her, years ago, of ever showing him disrespect. He didn’t consider her attempts to kill him anything other than amusing foreplay. But this? His control over her was weaker than it had ever been. She was learning to fight it. The fact the she could exercise any measure of free will around him caused him disquiet. If she could fight back even half of the persuasion he once held over her, his life really would be in danger.
Leith thought of the scar that ran down the length of his back, from shoulder to waist. That had been excruciating.
He tucked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans and leaned against the wall. He didn’t want to lose his favorite toy. Why had she never been able to see that he loved her? Lowlife Halfling, he thought bitterly. If he couldn’t keep her, he’d have to kill her.
Licking the blood remaining around his mouth, he stomped off down the street.