ROMANCE: BBW PARANORMAL ROMANCE: Bear Prince’s Witch Bride (Bear Shifter Royalty Military Arranged Marriage Romance) (Paranormal Alpha Male Fantasy Romance) by Liza Lightwood Page A

I weigh about one-hundred and ten pounds. With the tail, I weigh well over two hundred. Mermaid tails are heavy and long. They are full of solid muscle. “One wrong move and I will snap her neck,” Laithe begins, “or rather the Headmaster. It’s basically the same thing at this point.”
    I realize that Domino is no longer behind us and I hope that she has a plan. Without her, I don’t know how we will get out of this situation. “Does he even know what he’s doing?” I ask angrily. The Headmaster tightens his grip slightly and I grab at his arm. It’s more uncomfortable than painful, but I don’t like the compromising position.
    “To answer your question, Snow, he does not know what he’s doing. Do you want to know what’s different between us and most duos?” He asks rhetorically. “With the Headmaster, I don’t need to speak my commands. I just think them,” He says with pride evident in his voice.
    I’ve heard of assassins who are controlled on a cellular level by their counterparts. It is actually quite common, but Laithe acts as though he has made an astronomical accomplishment. I try to think my way out of this situation, but no matter what we do, there isn’t an outcome that will secure our safety. “You’re sick,” Kole says, venom oozing from his voice.
    I jerk backward when Laithe’s eyes become a fiery red and he grows fangs, much like vampires do when preparing for a fight. He bulks up and swings his arm at Kole, who takes the hit standing. I’m sure the jab didn’t even tickle Kole, but he looks absolutely furious that Laithe would try.
    And when Laithe looks in my direction, I am terrified.
    The grip around my throat tightens immensely and I can’t catch even the smallest tendril of air. I claw at the Headmaster’s arm, but know it won’t do any good. “Stop. Stop hurting her,” Kole shouts in agony. The grip doesn’t loosen and I open my mouth, trying to find oxygen.
    “Say you’re sorry,” Laithe says. My vision is blurry and turning black, but I hear the teasing in his tone. I pray he lets me go.
    “I’m sorry, Laithe. Just let her go,” Kole pleads. I imagine it’s the closest to begging Kole has ever come. My hearing begins to fade and the pressure around my neck does not seize. I feel myself spasm, but can no longer control my limbs as they drop to my side.
    “I’m not cruel, but it’s due punishment to kill her first. She seems to be the most intelligent of all of us Elites. She’s my toughest competition,” Laithe says. I miss the tail of his sentence as my ears go out of focus. The pressure in my head is overwhelming and I try to hold onto consciousness—I really do—but I lose my grip and fall headfirst into the pit of darkness.

Chapter 11
    I don’t think I was unconscious more than a few seconds. I drop to the ground and inhale as much oxygen as my lungs will allow. I look at the scene unwinding before me. Domino stands with a mirror in her hand, holding it to Laithe’s face. He looks equally mesmerized and horrified by the reflection. Kole springs from his knees and places Laithe in the same hold in which he had me.
    He whispers something into Laithe’s ear. Laithe begins struggling against Kole, but it is useless. By the time my breath finally evens, Laithe stops and the Headmaster falls to the ground beside me. The sprinklers were off when I awoke and my tail transforms into a pair of human legs. I realize I must have been out far longer than a few seconds if the water managed to drain so quickly. As a mermaid, my body absorbs any water near me and I dry far quicker than average, so it would have only taken a few minutes to switch back into my human form.
    Kole drops Laithe to the ground and runs to my side. Domino follows closely behind. He falls to his knees and pulls me into his lap, holding me as close to him as humanly possible. No words are spoken as Domino grabs my hand and we accept one another’s comfort. It takes me a moment to realize