CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Ellery
Gaius still hadthe blade against the side of Billy’s neck when a shift in the air alerted me someone was drawing on their ability.I twisted my head as wind whipped into the barn and Scarlet raised her hands, forming a tornado before her.
“Fuck!”Gaius shouted as Scarlet pushed the tornado toward him and Billy.
Before I knew what was happening, Gaius threw the boy aside and lunged for me.I jerked back, seeking to avoid him, but the chains around my ankles pulled taut, and I almost went down.
The only thing that stopped my fall was his hand catching on the manacles and yanking me toward him.I twisted my arms to the side, hoping to break his hold, but his other hand entangled in my hair.
A sharp bite lanced through my scalp as he tore out strands and lifted me off my feet, yanking me against his chest.Squirming, I swung my elbows, hoping to jab him in his ribs, but the chains hindered my movements, and he’d pulled me firmly against his chest.
Callan lunged for Billy and, lifting him out of the way, flung the boy at Ruby, who caught him.She pulled him against her chest as she ran with him toward the open barn doors.
Trapped within me, my lightning screamed to be free.I’d give anything to electrocute Gaius until lightning shot out his ass and erupted from his eyeballs.I’d keep frying him while he burned.
When I swung my head back, the blade sliced into my skin as he placed the dagger to my throat.“Cowardly asshole,” I hissed.
He lowered his mouth to my ear as he whispered, “Soon, you’ll be calling me worse, whore, because I plan on sticking my cock in every hole in your body.You’ll beg me to stop, and then you’ll beg for more by the time I finish with you.”
His words sent a cascade of ice through my body.The feel of his tongue against my skin turned that ice to vomit, and I nearly spewed bile all over the floor.
The tops of the barn doors rattled and tore free as Scarlet pushed the tornado toward us.When her eyes met mine, I nodded.
I didn’t care what happened or how much that funnel battered my body, I’d rather be caught up in it than go with Gaius through his portal.Getting my feet planted more firmly beneath me, I lunged to the side as I sought to break free.
The tornado roared in my ears as wind tore at my clothing and ripped at my hair.It battered us both as I thrashed against him, but Gaius wouldn’t ease his ironclad hold on me.
When I swung my head back in hopes of shattering his nose and teeth, he ducked to the side, and my blow grazed his cheek.Now that Billy was free, I’d fight to the bitter end not to go anywhere with this man.
Ianto charged at us as Callan ran at him from the other side.I threw myself forward but couldn’t break free of Gaius’s hold.
I was getting ready to start kicking backward in a desperate attempt to lodge his nuts in his intestines, when I felt the prick of a blade against my side.It didn’t hinder my movements… until he shoved deep.
CHAPTERTHIRTY
Ellery
The dagger piercedthrough my flesh, scraped across my ribs, and embedded itself in my lung.I bit back a scream as my breath caught and, try as I might, I couldn’t draw any more air into me.
Every instinct I had wanted to crawl away and curl into a ball, but I couldn’t evade the blade in my side, and if I didn’t keep fighting, he’d succeed in dragging me through that portal.
“Stay back!”Gaius shouted.
Ianto and Callan froze when Gaius drew the blade upward.It would have humiliated me to scream; he couldn’t know how badly I hurt, but thankfully, I couldn’t scream as thick liquid surged up my throat, choking any sound.
It wasn’t until the liquid hit my tongue and the coppery tang of blood assailed me that I realized I was choking on my blood.Warmth pooled against my lips, but I kept them clamped against the life seeking to spew from me.
The terrified looks on Ianto’s and Callan’s faces kept my mouth closed.If I spewed blood all over the floor, I’d only scare them more, and they already didn’t know what to do.
“Back the tornado off!”Gaius shouted at Scarlet.
Her face remained a stony mask while her brown eyes glittered with malice.She’d much prefer to drop it on his head, but she moved the tornado away from us.
The barn doors continued to crash and bang against the walls.The funnel sucked up a wheelbarrow and swirled it up through the top before smashing off the hayloft and raining debris.
With the others held immobile by the blood spilling down my side and me frozen in agony, Gaius managed to drag me closer to the portal.I’d been so focused on trying not to collapse that I didn’t realize we were nearly there.
