19. Nineteen

nineteen

My heart was pounding out of my chest but Drym gave me space to decide. Whatever that paper said, it had made him furious. His gold eyes took on a reddish cast, glowing so bright it was like twin flashlights in my darkened bedroom.

It had to be from my kidnappers. I was deathly afraid of walking into the dark forest again, but staying here was out of the question. They knew where I lived.

"Gather what you need for two days. Wait until it's full light. I'll keep watch from just inside the forest's edge and meet you when you get there."

He was risking exposure getting that close to being out in the open. Selfishly, I didn't care. I knew there was no way I'd be able to walk into those trees by myself. My throat felt like the Sahara. Or was it the Sonoran? Whichever place was drier.

I nodded.

"I will watch you every step of the way. I am fast enough to run down a vehicle. You will not be taken from me."

I inhaled and nodded again, still unable to form words.

He turned and left, his tail quivering at the tip in agitation.

He wasn't leaving me. He was going to wait. He'd meet me at the edge of the forest. I repeated the plan in my head until I packed a small bag with a few changes of clothes and toiletries. I wore my lightweight hiking boots. I wasn't a hiker, but I aspired to be one year. They had excellent traction, according to the person who sold them to me.

I wanted excellent traction if I needed to run.

I shook the thought from my head. I wouldn't need to run. Drym waited for me just inside the tree line.

I perched on the edge of the couch, staring out the window. The sky lightened through several shades of purple, red, and orange before finally settling into an overcast blue. I dialed my boss, told her I needed to take another couple of days off and she was sympathetic.

The last task taken care of, I guessed I had to pull up my big girl panties and get going. The sun wasn't going to help anymore today.

My head hunched into my shoulders, I speed walked across the parking lot. I almost made myself dizzy, darting my eyes back and forth, searching for threats. Twenty feet, nineteen. seventeen feet, then fifteen feet left between me and the tree line.

A shadow moved in the forest. Drym, swaying so my eyes could pick him out. Letting me know he was there.

Blood pounded in my ears, drowning out the sound of car doors opening behind me. Drym's eyes flashed red in the gloom and I heard him growl, "Run."

I didn't hesitate. I took off like a rocket, aimed at where he stood. Adrenaline made me faster than I'd ever been, but the pounding feet on the asphalt behind me seemed to get closer every second.

I reached Drym's arms and they folded around me, giving me a quick squeeze before he pushed me gently behind him. He looked over his shoulder at me. "Close your eyes, little one. Don't look. Don't move."

I knew he would never hurt me. I was certain he would make good on his promise to rip apart anyone who tried to take me from him. I closed my eyes.

The shift of air was the only indicator I had that he moved. I stood stock still. I heard the crunch of feet falling into the fallen leaves from last autumn, then a sliding noise and a scream cut impossibly short.

"What the fuck?"

I recognized that voice. That was one of the men who snatched me from the street. I squeezed my eyes shut and countered the impulse to open them. I held my bag to my chest, the strap cutting across my back.

Running footsteps from my left. "Bill! I found her!"

"No names, you fucking idiot!"

Now I knew his name was Bill. Fat lot of good that would do me. Why couldn't it be Moonbeam or something else unique?

Two sets of shuffling feet got closer. I kept my eyes shut tight, and other than uncontrolled trembling, planted my feet. The urge to run increased the closer the noises of the two men came, but I held my ground.

A small click proceeded a gurgle followed quickly by Bill saying, "Holy shiii—!"

The word cut off abruptly. A low howl pierced the silence. It was like the entire forest stopped to listen. The sound tapered off and Drym's voice, strong and soft, immediately followed.

"I want you to turn and face the opposite way."

My eyes fluttered.

"No, keep your eyes closed."

I nodded to let him know I understood and turned. Something from deep in the forest ran toward me. Something big and fast pushed through the underbrush. Every muscle in my body locked until I felt Drym's heat at my lower back.

"Quin is coming."

My head whipped to the side, but I kept my eyes closed. "Why?" I felt panic bubble in my chest. Why would Drym give me to Quin? Why wouldn't he take me himself?

"To carry the one I left alive."

"The other two?"

"Dead."

No emotion, no inflection in his voice. Just a simple fact.

"I want to see."

He stilled. I was thankful he didn't outright deny my request. However horrible the sight, I needed to see. To make my brain truly understand they couldn't come after me again.

"If you think it will help."

I nodded, took a deep breath, and opened my eyes. I was facing into the forest; the sunlight dappled where it hit the ground, a soft breeze rustling the branches high above. It was quiet. Tranquil even.

I turned around slowly.

One man was lying between two trees to my right. Or rather, his torso laid there. His head was several feet away. It looked like it had been torn from his body.

I felt … nothing. No remorse, no regret. No nausea even. The only feeling I could summon was a hint of relief.

I swung my head to the left. One man was a crumpled lump on the ground. The one he'd left alive, I assumed, since he wasn't covered in blood or missing any limbs. The other's throat was gone. Not slit, not crushed, just gone. Like something grabbed it from the front and ripped it clean away.

No, not something. Drym.

I looked up into his eyes, now back to their normal gold color. He reached for me and then pulled back.

"Thank you." I let him see how much I meant those two words.

He reached for me again, and I took a step back. I smirked and waved at his arms. "You gotta take a bath before you touch me."

He started and looked down, staring at the blood and gore that soaked him from claw tip to bicep. He snorted. "Fine."

Quin slid to a stop in front of us and whistled. "Next time, leave some fun for the rest of us." He scanned me from head to toe. "You okay, Kendal?"

"I'm good. Do you mind guiding me to the caves? I think Drym should carry the one he left alive, because I'm not letting him carry me."

He laughed and bowed, extending his hand with a flourish. "It would be my pleasure."

Drym followed close behind, grumbling the entire way.