Hell's Consort

Luna managed to slam her fist on Catriona's cheekbone with lightning-quick reflexes while mid-shift.

Usually, her first instinct was not to fight when she's not at the receiving end of someone else's ire, but she can't leave Lady Clarence, a vulnerable human, alone to fend for herself against a were-leopard. At least her involvement could make this fight even.

Physically, she'd been waiting for this forever.

This is a chance to release all her pent-up anger and frustration for being detained as a consort in this Kingdom against her will and being treated like a lowlife by this self-entitled bitch.

The warrior general will be lenient should he decide to punish them if he knew Catriona had attacked first. They have witnesses.

Catriona's head snapped as she was thrown from the side.

Clutching her head, she righted herself and glared at her.

Catriona's gaze never falling from Luna; she used the back of her hand to wipe the blood trickling from the cut of her lower lip.

"Any last words before I take you out of the Concubine List just like you planned for Lady Clarence?" Luna smirked as she ran a hand on her precious silver hair.

They can't afford to look weak here, not when these females were looking for every chance to bully them, especially lower ranks like her.

Sneaky High Consorts never play fair.

"Get out of my face, Silver Hair. I'm better at this game than you are. " Catriona huffed. "Don't mess with me."

"Oh, but I do. I don't care if you kill me right now. It would be best if you learned to respect the other harem girls despite their ranks. I'm going to teach you a lesson." Luna replied. "I'm not letting you get away with this."

"You marred my face on the day of the Blood Moon Banquet. I'll tell Vali what you did to a Concubine Candidate!" Catriona shrieked, and it sent Luna's ears ringing.

"I'll replace you as the Concubine Candidate, then," Luna suggested sarcastically.

"You disrespectful bitch! You are just a consort." She flushed red with anger as she pointed the finger at her.

Catriona continued smugly, "I'll suggest that you be demoted as a blood slave from the trouble you have caused."

"I'll tell Vali you poisoned me!" Lady Clarence stood a couple of feet near Luna and spoke, defending her. "I haven't told him about it yet because I was giving you the benefit of the doubt. I'd have you interrogated for your sins if you didn't quit your threats."

Guilt flashed, quickly gone.

Catriona's eyes look completely crazed when she said, "Nobody deserves the Empress throne except me. It's fucking time for everyone to realize it!"

"Is that so?" Luna shot back.

She was too obsessed with the throne.

It's no wonder she was behind Lady Clarence's poisoning.

Without warning, Luna kicked out her leg and nailed Catriona in the stomach.

Breath whooshed out of her mouth as she skidded backward, instinctively hunching over.

"You are going to regret this, bitch." Catriona repeated, straightening.

Her large eyes flashing dangerously, as pink flushed the exotic slope of her cheeks.

"What you have done to Lady Clarence, poisoning her drinks, shifting to a were-leopard, and attacking her behind her back, is underhanded and wrong. Someone needs to punish you, and I'll happily volunteer."

Luna heard the harem girls in the room clapping to that as they muttered to themselves.

Catriona's chin lifted, and hell, she'd never appeared more superior. "I'll defeat you."

"Bring it." Luna waved her hand. "And don't shift. Prove your strength to everyone that you could defeat me fair and square."

Catriona lunged at her.

Amid the chorus of female cheers and giggles and the eunuchs' sincere pleas to stop, they slammed together and tumbled backward. Luna hit the floor, Catriona's weight smacked into her.

Catriona straddled Luna with her knees pinning her shoulders, and she struggled to breathe.

Catriona popped her nose with her left fist.

Luna yelped.

She didn't expect that from her.

Catriona's right hand nailed her in the jaw.

Snarling, Luna struggled for freedom.

Blood dribbled down Luna's lip and chin.

There was no hair-pulling and scratching in this fight.

They fought like men.

The laughter faded, the muttered stops became stronger, concerned.

No one dared approach them as though fearing for their lives.

As Catriona reached back to punch Luna with her knuckles, her legs worked between them and kicked Catriona.

She flew backward and landed on her ass.

Luna was already on her feet, and Catriona swiftly jumped up.

Both were panting and glaring.

"Can't stand a little competition, Cat?" Luna taunted.

Several of the eunuchs braved their furies and approached.

Catriona's eyes turned glowing green like a cat, her teeth lengthening into sharp fangs, and snarled at them, her leopard almost taking over.

Luna's legs widened in a fighting stance and her hands fisted, ready for any attack.

She held her ground.

Catriona was in her face a heartbeat later as the wind whipped between them.

Luna hooked her foot around her ankle and shoved.

Catriona fell.

Gasping, she rolled to the side and tried to shift to a were-leopard again, this time successfully.

The leopard advanced toward Luna, stalking her like prey, intending to destroy her.

Luna stepped back.

Suddenly, someone tackled Catriona while she was distracted, tossing the leopard to the ground and pinning her.

Five male eunuchs pinned her down.

Catriona struggled and kicked and roared.

"Are you alright, Luna?" Lady Clarence was suddenly behind her, patting her in the back with concern.

Catriona sprang for Luna again.

Through wide eyes, Luna watched her as she closed the distance, fists drawn back.

One of the men dove for the leopard, knocking her down again before she reached Luna.

The High Consort scrambled just as she worked her way free from her captors.

"Stop!" A familiar masculine voice commanded.

Cederic.