Page 101 of Blood So Brutal

Rummy walked ahead of me with her back straight. Lord eventually moved to the front of the group, leaving Jessiah to guide Rummy, which immediately made me feel better.

I didn’t want that lying bastard anywhere near her.

I knew the type of pain Lord inflicted on me. If he so much as laid a fucking finger on Rummy, he wasdead.

Wolf’s hand fell to my back. “You must be getting cold,” he said, interrupting my thoughts.

I kept marching forward. “I’m fine.”

It was a shit lie. The cool night air quickly infiltrated the thin fabric of my dress. The hem dragged along the dirt, adding dampness to the fabric and weighing it down more than necessary. My feet already blistered, but the heaviness of our situation was enough to distract me from my discomfort.

“Here.” Wolf pulled his tunic over his head. He wore a thin undershirt, certainly not enough to keep himself warm, but when he handed me his shirt, I accepted it.

“Thank you,” I mumbled. “This is going to be a long journey without proper supplies.”

Rummy stumbled ahead of us, nearly falling to her knees. Jessiah caught her at the last second and hoisted her back to her feet.

“We can’t keep going like this!” he announced. “We need to take a break. Regroup. This is a dangerous journey as it is.”

Luseyar stopped walking and turned to face Asmodeus, awaiting orders.

But when I looked at Asmodeus, he was staring directly at me, brows drawn, eyes dark.

“Fine,” he said after a handful of moments. “We’ll stop here and rest, only for an hour. The faster we get to Scarlata, the better.”

Wolf shook his head. “We’re in no condition to make the journey by foot.”

“We’ve all endured worse. Wouldn’t you agree, son?” Asmodeus stepped forward, and I fought the urge to step between them, to shield Wolf from his father’s inspection.

Wolf only stared directly back at his father, eye to eye. “I suppose since we cannot all fly, it will have to do.”

His words held no emotions. Only facts. Asmodeus waited a second more and then smiled. Ruthless bastard. He would be the first one to become food for the hungry ones.

“Better rest up,” he ordered. “It’s a long journey ahead.”

Asmodeus disappeared into the bushes, walking around the group to speak with Luseyar privately.

A thick eeriness hung in the air. The journey wasn’t exactly pleasant last time, but we had the horses to guide us, and there had been a near peaceful sense in the forest as we traveled through it.

Very different from this time around.

It felt as if we were being watched every step of the way.

“This doesn’t feel right,” I said to Wolf, but I didn’t take my eyes off Rummy. I tried to take a step toward her but Lord cut me off.

“You heard Asmodeus,” Lord said before he clicked his tongue, shaking his head. “I thought I raised you better than that. Disobeying orders so soon?”

Fiery rage consumed me.

“Do not speak to her,” Wolf said. “We’re out here in the middle of the damn forest. Talking to Rummy isn’t exactly a threat.”

“No, it’s not,” Lord answered. “But Huntyr requires a punishment for her actions.”

“Me? What exactly did I do that requires punishment?” I stepped in front of Wolf, finally facing Lord with the rage that built inside me. “I did everything you asked of me, every single fucking thing!”

He actually looked bored with what I was saying. Rummy shifted behind him, but I kept my attention on Lord.

“And yet, you still disappoint me. Do not try to speak to Rummy again. It will not end well for you.”

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