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“Cara!” I screamed and scrambled to my feet. My desperation broke through my fear, and I sprinted across the clearing as fast as my ten-year-old legs would carry me. All the chosen villagers had entered the cave mouth now, and the last hooded figure turned back to look at me.
His glowing yellow eyes watched me from the darkness, and then he was gone.
CHAPTER 6
~ Raine ~
Myeyessnappedopen,and I sucked in a gasping breath as I bolted upright. Light flooded the room as the torches on the walls flared to life at my movement, and I closed my eyes with a wince.One. Two. Three.I counted the breaths as I sucked in air.It was just a memory.Breathe, Raine. Just breathe.
When my pounding heartbeat finally calmed, I remembered the black smoke that had seeped under the door.
What had—? My hands shot to my chest.Still dressed.
I was also still in what appeared to be the same room, except now I was positioned on the cot and my wet dress had made the blanket damp.
I twisted to look around me and grimaced when I moved my arm. An angry red dot was situated on the inner crease, and I prodded it with my finger, surprised by the small sting of pain at the touch.What did they do to me?
My heart rate spiked again when I thought about my dagger. If the monsters had come here while I slept, had they found it? My hand dropped to my thigh, and I blew out a breath of relief when I felt the handle through the fabric of my dress.Too close.I had to get out of there and find Cara.
Crusty bread had been left on a platter near the pink liquid, the only other sign that I’d had a visitor. Lifting the bread to my nose, I found it smelled much the same as what we had back home. No hint of anything strange, like the floral scent in the water. I couldn’t be sure it wasn’t poisoned, but I needed my strength.Who knows when I’ll see food again. Hoping for the best, I nibbled it, surprised to find it tasted fresh and helped ease my queasy stomach.
When I finished the bread, I eyed the pink liquid, all too aware of my dry throat. But I didn’t drink. They wouldn’t get me that easily. Not yet, anyway.
With a little of my energy renewed, I took a breath, drew my dagger, and waited to the side of the door.
Afistthumpedonthe iron door of my room, and my muscles tensed. I was ready to get out of this hell hole.
“Your turn, Sharachi,” a deep masculine voice called from the other side.
Sharachi?I tightened my fingers on the hilt of my dagger.
The door swung open, and I didn’t let myself hesitate. I shot forward, driving my dagger into the solid body entering the room. In a split second, strong hands lashed out, sending me flying across the space. I landed in a heap to the side of the cot, pain jarring up my limbs, and I bit my lip to stifle a groan.Well, that didn’t go as planned.
Lifting my aching head, I focused my swirling vision to stare at where the horned monster stood inside the doorway, my dagger jutting from his muscled shoulder. My lip twitched up.Not a total failure.Though, it seemed wrong to mar such a stunningly chiseled body.
A-Two stared at the dagger, then pulled it out in one swift motion as if it were nothing but a splinter. Black blood coated the blade, but I didn’t have time to contemplate the color. My eyes widened as I watched his wound close and the skin stitch back together.This fucker is indestructible.I’d always assumed that the monsters were different to humans, but I hadn’t expected that.All right, so my plans of escape just got a little harder.
A-Two strode toward me, the muscles on his bare arms rippling in the light, and I shuffled back until I bumped against the side of the cot.Fuck.Instinctively, I lifted my arms to block his lethal blow. There was no way I’d survive a hit by a monster that size, and I knew it, but there was nothing around me to use as a weapon and nowhere for me to go.
I waited for the blow. Waited for the pain that had to be coming, but… nothing happened. Frowning, I moved my arms away from my face, and blinked in surprise at A-Two’s outstretched hand.
“Sorry ’bout that,” he said shrugging sheepishly, and his lips molded into a wide grin. “Acted on instinct. Lucky I didn’t use all my strength, or I would’ve killed ya.”
“I—what?” Confusion dampened my anger.Did he just…apologize?
I went to ignore his outstretched hand, but he grabbed my arm and began pulling me to my feet. The moment his fingers touched me, pain crackled up my arm and traveled through my body, the sensation taking my breath away. With a wince, I yanked my arm away.
“What the hell did you do to me?” I accused when the pain left me, and I could breathe again.
He shook his head, his shaggy coffee-colored hair flicking around his violet eyes, and I could have sworn there was genuine shock on his face. Slowly, his frown morphed back into a smile. “Dar was right. You’re goin’ to be fun.”
Goddess, these monsters are infuriating. Nothing that comes out of their mouths ever makes any sense.I don’t know why I expected any different. With a huff, I eyed my dagger that looked ridiculously small grasped in A-Two’s hand.
He held the blade in front of him, poised before his chest, and without thinking, my gaze wandered to the hard muscles across his broad shoulders. Just like with Locke, A-One, it was as if there was something pulling me toward him. Telling me to get close to him. To run my fingers along the sculpted muscle of his arms. To…
“I’d better hang on to this, though,” A-Two added, pulling me from whatever strange state I’d been in.
I blinked rapidly, startled at where my mind had gone. At the ache that was inside me. My thoughts were clearer again, but there was still the feeling. Like I had to get closer to this monster.
