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“Excuse me.”
His grin is more of a leer. “No, my lady. Excuse me.” Still, he doesn’t move.
“Please, get out of the way.” I don’t know if I can hurt him, but if I can heal Onyx, I might be able to put this guy down, at least take him out of the game long enough that I can get past him. But if it doesn’t work, I’ve put myself close enough for him to grab me and do…whatever it is he has planned. I don’t want to think about what that might be or the fear might drain the focus I need to get out of here.
“Move.”
The older shadow beast says, “Move, Wraith.”
To my surprise, he lowers his head and steps out of my way.
The man speaks from near the fire. “But your mates did want you to stay inside.”
“I’ll be right outside the cave. Close enough that if there’s an issue, you’ll know it. I just need a minute alone and a breath of air.”
“She’ll be fine,” the creepy man named Wraith says.
The older shadow beast sighs. “Okay, the Moon Goddess knows that my own daughters wouldn’t have been able to tolerate a cave full of men for too long. But, stay close.”
Nodding, I rush out of the cave. One side of the sky is grey, which I think is still light enough to keep the Shadow King’s men away, but still, I stay close. Just far enough away to avoid the creepy guy, but not so far as to get into trouble.
“I’m surprised you didn’t want them.”
I stiffen and whirl around to see Wraith way too close to me.
“Few women would refuse the king.”
It’s hard to form a response when my instincts are screaming to run. I glance between the cave entrance and him. If things go wrong, I can definitely scream, and maybe get around him. “A king or not, a woman likes to have a little time to think.”
He moves closer to me, and I lift a hand to tell him to stop. His gaze goes to my hand, and he smirks, still coming closer.
I dodge left then quick-fade right, but his gorilla arms wrap around me, and he lifts me off my feet. When I open my mouth to scream, one of his hands goes over my mouth. He takes a few steps and pins me between his body and a tree. As he uses his body to hold me there, his hand is still covering my mouth. I scream against his hand and struggle, but I barely make a sound, and there’s no way to get leverage or to move. He pulls a knife from the sheath on his belt.
“You should’ve gone with your mates.”
I know that now. And I won’t be making this mistake ever again. Assuming I get out of this alive and have that kind of choice.
“You’re coming with me.” His voice is hard but a rasp, like he’s hoarse, and there’s nothing sexy or husky about it. It’s pure gravel and if I never hear it again, it will be too soon.
His hand slowly lowers from my mouth, and I feel the coolness of his blade against my throat.
My heart hammers, and I realize that I might not be able to take this guy out by fighting, but I can out smart him. Deep down I already know that he’ll have to kill me before I go anywhere with him. And he won’t.
So, that’s something.
“I won’t go anywhere with you.” Okay, there, I said it. Carefully, I crane my neck back to look at him, and kind of wish I hadn’t.
He holds the knife closer to my throat and laughs. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wraith and I don’t kill.” After a few seconds, a slow grin that is mostly snarl slides across his face. “I’m the torturer.” Pride blooms in his eyes. He’s cocky and overconfident. Weak because of it.
But even so, it doesn’t stop the fear that races through me. He’s right. He might not be able to kill me, but I’m not exactly experienced at resisting torture.
My mind is racing, moving so fast that I’m not sure any of my thoughts are logical. It’s like they’re just screaming at me to run or fight, and I don’t know which idea is better.Maybe fightingandrunning?If I can just get one leg free, I can use that and go for the family jewels, maybe put him down long enough that I can get out and find Phantom or Dusk or Onyx.
“Why do you even want me?” I don’t see desire or interest in his eyes. So, is it just his hunger to lay claim to my power?
He whispers into my ear, “Years ago, when I followed Phantom to this world and decided to follow at his side instead of the king, I felt I made the right choice. Now, if I could turn back time, I wouldn’t waste my life fighting a battle we’ll never win. I would have stayed with my king. So, when I learned of your existence, I made a deal with the king. You…in exchange for his pardon and a comfortable life. More than worth it, if you ask me.”
“And you think that man will keep his word?” I laugh. He can’t be that naïve.
