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The other three men are seated around it with their backs to me. They could not be positioned more perfectly.
I edge around the wall. I need to see Mira. I don’t want to hurt her when I attack.
My heart stops beating for a moment when I see her. She is kneeling on the floor, her head bowed and her hands tied behind her back. Her still-wet hair is bedraggled and hangs around her face in long knots.
Fury rises in my blood when she raises her head to reveal a bruise across one cheek. These bastards are going to pay.
Even though I’m certain I am well concealed, Mira turns her face toward me and looks me straight in the eye. Her gaze does not flicker, but a secret smile plays across her lips.
25
MIRA
There is a flicker of movement at the edge of the barn. I try not to let it show I’ve noticed anything, but my heart is singing for joy. Renxel has come to save me.
“It doesn’t matter what you say,” I tell Brantham, the leader. I need to keep him distracted, his focus on me. “We cannot help who we love. Love transcends everything. If you were lucky enough to meet your fated mate, it would not matter if she had two heads.”
The one with the brilliant blue eyes whose name I haven’t heard yet laughs. “Yeah, Brantham, I can see you with a two-headed monster. She might be human, but she clearly knows what you’re into.”
Brantham casually reaches out and punches him. “Quiet, Akrod,” he says.
“Fuck this, why are you stalling? Let’s cut her throat and get out of here. And where’s Axle? He was only meant to be taking a –” His sentence is cut short by a blow to the back of the head. He slowly leans forward and falls to the floor in front of me.
“Fuck,” Brantham cusses, rising and pulling his knife in one swift motion.
But Renxel moves fast. He kicks him in the knee before Brantham gets the chance to use the thing on him.
“Look out,” I cry as the one called Spinth smashes the bottle in his hand against a nearby post.
There is terror in my heart as I watch Renxel dive out of the way with only millimeters to spare. The bottle-wielding Spinth dives straight after him, taking advantage of his prone position.
I scoot myself back against the wall of the barn to avoid the scuffle. I need to get these ropes off. I need to help Renxel.
The two remaining Kiphians manage to get to their feet, and now Renxel has to fight them both. His only weapon is a piece of wood that he’s brandishing like a club in front of him.
Brantham and Spinth start to fan out. “You don’t stand a chance, boy,” Brantham says, heading to Renxel’s left. I am satisfied to see him sporting a limp from the blow Renxel gave to his knee.
“No,” Renxel replies. “You should not have taken my woman. Your life is mine,” he says, lunging at Brantham.
Brantham staggers on his weak leg as he avoids the swing of Renxel’s club. But instead of backing down, he ducks and steps forward. I can tell he is used to a fight, and although Renxel is fit and strong, I worry that Brantham will outmaneuver him
I find I’m holding my breath as they crash to the ground.Please be okay, Renxel.
Renxel is far stronger than Brantham, and he pins him down with ease, raising his fist and punching him hard. Brantham twists and struggles, but Renxel somehow remains on top.
Suddenly, Spinth lunges in and tries to make a stab at Renxel with the broken bottle as they grapple with one another. But Renxel sees it coming. He flips over just as Spinth launches himself, and instead of Renxel, Spinth hits Brantham. It’s only a glancing blow, but blood gushes from the wound on Brantham’s shoulder.
“You idiot,” he screams, taking his eyes from Renxel for a moment to glare at Spinth, who is dancing back out of the way.
Renxel takes advantage of the distraction to bash Brantham’s hand against the floor. On reflex, Brantham drops the knife and curses again.
The sight of Spinth with the broken bottle in his hand gives me an idea. If I can get to the pile of broken glass in the corner, I might be able to cut my bonds.
Keeping my eyes riveted on the fight, I start to edge my way along the wall of the barn. I hope Brantham and Spinth are distracted enough with Renxel not to notice me move.
Brantham may no longer have the knife in his possession, but he’s far from defenseless. He punches Renxel hard in the face. Renxel lets out a great bellow and bucks as hard as he can to try to dislodge him. But Brantham is tenacious. There is no way he is going to allow Renxel to rise.
I wish there was something I could do. I feel so useless with my hands tied behind my back.
