Page 38 of Nightshade

Brow furrowed, she shook her head. “It is very much worth the consequence, and I refuse.”

“I will not tell you again. Hand it over. Now.”

“What for? What cruel things would you do to this bird for your amusement?”

“What I would do is none of your concern. You either hand it over now, or I will take it with force.”

“Lustina … please.” Drystan’s words arrived through clenched teeth. “I do not wish to suffer the consequence of your insolence, as well.”

“I will suffer the lashes myself, if necessary. I will not hand this bird over to you. You may be the young Lord of this estate, but you are not lord of the birds. And you are certainly not mine.”

“Who would endeavor to command such an unruly and tyrannical creature as you.” He lurched closer. “Give me the bird.”

“Tell me what for.”

“Do as he says, Lustina,” Drystan chimed again. “You do not know what trouble this will bring.”

“Perhaps not. But I know what harm awaits this poor bird, should I comply.”

The baron’s icy eyes swirled with both intensity and dark amusement, which only served to affirm her fears. “Give me the bird, and nothing will come of this.”

“I would sooner have you pry the poor creature from my hands.”

“It isn’t wise to taunt me, girl.”

“Neither is it wise to threaten me, My Lord.”

“Enough of this.” He lurched forward, reaching for her arm, and on wrenching it away, Lustina tumbled backward.

The ground met her spine in a clash of pain, and she grimaced as the needling sensation coiled up to her sinuses. The young baron fell atop her, catching himself on outstretched arms, and he seemed to eye the pocket of her apron where the bird lay tucked.

The moment he reached for it, Lustina dug her fingernails into his scalp and tugged back on what little hair she could grasp.

The baron slammed her wrist against the ground alongside her head, which promptly unleashed her fingers from his hair. Careful not to disrupt the injured bird tucked in her pocket, she brought her knee up to his groin, and smiled as it made contact with his most sensitive flesh.

The baron let out a growl and pressed his thighs into hers, his blue eyes blazing with the kind of fury that sent her heart into rapid beats.

“Lustina!” Drystan called out from somewhere beyond the scuffle. “Just give him the bird! For Heaven’s sake, this isn’t worth it!”

“Do not tell me what to do!” She clawed at the baron, as he dug into the wrong pocket. “I will not listen to a couple of wretched boys who could both use a good lashing!” She lifted her head to bite his ear, which he dodged just as her teeth grazed his lobe.

“I see the monastery has done a fine job of teaching you to behave like a wild animal,” the baron gritted.

“And is it your fancy university education which has taught you to wrestle ladies to the ground?”

“I will let you know once I lay eyes upon a lady.”

A new flare of anger burst inside her, and it was a wonder the poor bird in her pocket wasn’t crushed to bits with the flailing of her arms and kicking of her legs.

Abandoning his rifling of her pocket, the baron took hold of both her wrists that time, slamming them into the wet ground beneath her. The mud sloshed against her skin, and she could feel her dress soil with the wrestling that ensued.

“Give me the bird!”

“Never!”

“You are nothing but an ill-tempered brat who ought to be stretched across someone’s lap and punished. Only then will you learn to keep those impudent lips shut.”

“I will never silence myself for a spoiled child of a man!”