Page 17 of Voices in the Stars
“Just you,” he promised.
I nodded at his words. “Good. Let’s keep it that way. Where is she?”
Klyn pointed down the hall. “Locked her in the bedroom.”
My brows pulled together as I listened to him. He locked away a girl who knew I was coming to get her? Someone who I was willingly bringing to my father so she could help with the destruction of Feycrest? I sucked in a deep breath as I walked down the hall.
This girl wasn’t Nari. The fact that she was willing to work with my father proved that. I couldn’t afford to think she was going to be anything likeNari. No, this girl was obviously manipulative and dangerous if Klyn felt the need to lock her away. Further proof that I was doing the right thing.
Klyn shoved his way in front, unlocking the door for me. I held my breath as I opened it, just to see her sleeping on the bed. There was something dark being used as a makeshift pillow. Her sandy hair was draped across her face. Several strands stuck onto her parted lips. I ground my teeth looking at her. The innocence on her face made my fists clench at my side.
It would take a single thought from her and Lachlan would be set ablaze. That’s why my father wanted her home so badly. She was a weapon meant to destroy Feycrest until everyone succumbed to her. And she was here, peacefully sleeping without a care in the world. Her embarrassment be damned. She wasn’t leaving my side until I made my choice. Even if I had to carry her, screaming, back to Kilrest.
Each thudding footstep as I walked closer to her made me feel better about the plan I laid out for us. I dug through the satchel at my side, pulling out the rope and burlap bag I had brought with me. Neither would do much to prevent her from killing everyone, but it might help. All I needed was to get her away from everyone as quickly as possible.
I would make her see the right side of this war, that she was going to be helping a murderer. If I couldn’t make her see the light, I’d kill her.
I was moving.Well, I was being moved. With a single, smooth action, I was raised from the bed and thrown onto something hard. The world was dark around me. A dark fabric was wrapped around my head. It scratched against my cheeks. There were enough holes that I could see light and dark, moving shapes. My hands rested against a warm body, moving up and down with their breathing. When I tried to pull them apart, something prickled against my wrist, keeping them stuck together. I was trapped.
Great. A girl can’t even nap without being in danger.
“Hello?” I called out.
The only answer I got was a grunt in my ear. The floorboards squeaked as I bounced with each step. I was being carried. Whoever had me, certainly didn’t have a smooth stride. He could’ve been skipping and I’m not sure it would’ve made a difference to me.
“I’m sorry, miss,” Klyn apologized.
“Klyn?” I called out as we moved through the house. “What’s happening?”
I was ignored. His mumblings were quiet as he talked to whoever had me. They didn’t answer as a door clicked behind us. I tried kicking him, but my legs were stuck together. With a grunt, I still attempted to kick his back. My tied hands slammed into his chest. The arm wrapped around my waist tightened as a grunt huffed out of him. I smiled, satisfied as I kept hitting him. Each hit was getting harder as the ties started to loosen. My stomach dropped as the arm let go of me, sending me tumbling off his shoulder.It was my turn to grunt as I landed flat on my back.
“This isn’t going to work,” a deep voice grumbled above me.
I couldn’t help the giggle that burst through my lips. I had to look ridiculous to him sprawled out in the grass. Maybe I could make him think I was broken. Too crazy to kidnap. Where I would go after, I had no idea. That would be a problem for future me.
“You could always just let me go,” I tried to bargain, tilting my head toward where his voice had come from. “I never saw your face. You could just leave now.”
His chuckle was dark, his breath hot as it wafted across my face. I could imagine his large form bent down toward me. “And who would you even tell if you did see me?”
“The constable,” I answered.
“Who?”
The confusion, thick in his voice, threw me off. “Authorities? Someone who would lock you away for forcibly taking a stranger.” It was such a simple thing I was explaining to him, laying here. It was one of the first things children were taught. When in danger, find the men with the gold helmets.
“Forcibly taking?” His voice broke with a laugh. “Let’s not lie to each other. You’re coming with me.” His voice was a dark promise. I could hear the threat he wasn’t voicing.No one can help you.
That couldn’t be true. I refused to accept it even as the panic started setting in. Klyn was nice enough to help; there had to be others here like him. We could still be close to Lachlan. A plan quickly formed. I sucked in a deep breath, ready to scream as loud as I could after everything that happened.
Any noise was cut off when something cold was pressed against my neck. The sharp edge dug into my skin as my breathing slowed. Fear settled like a heavy weight in my stomach.
“Move and you’re dead.” His voice was a cold threat whispered into my ear.
My body was trembling. Each breath I took was shortened by the metal digging into my throat. This solidified my earlier thoughts. None of this could be real. I was dreaming.The worst that could happen was that he would try to kill me, and I’d wake up. That still wasn’t something I was excited to try.
“Listen closely.” Warmth radiated from where he pressed closer to me. “You’re already making this much harder than it needs to be. I will kill you; consequences be damned. I’m the closest thing to an authority figure you’re going to find here. So, knock your shit off or this blade will become great friends with your heart. Understand?”
“Yes,” I choked out, tears freely falling down my face now.
