Page 97 of Bound
Chapter 35
Gage
Amoret goes taut in my arms. The very tension in her frame makes every instinct I have rail with rage.
The men stand just beyond the edge of the pavilion. The shadows from the building hide much of their features, as the rain hid their approach.
But I can see enough to make out the weapons strapped to their black militia style clothing.
I curse at not making Amoret return to the manor sooner.
“Extinguish your flames, Fae.” The voice is harsh. I peer to my right as a male slips through the ranks. A long scar trails up under his chin to pucker one cheek. In fatigues, tactical jacket, and boots, he looks like a soldier. Albeit one for hire.
Over one side of his chest lays an odd symbol done in shiny black thread. It is the only thing on him that is not matte-black. I can make out a crescent moon and what could be a jagged sword, but the symbol is not one I am familiar with.
“What do you want?” I ask, pushing Amoret behind me. She clings to my frame, her hands buried in my shirt.
“Extinguish the flames, lace your hands behind your head, and come quietly,” the man says. “If you do, no harm will befall yourself or the female while you both are in our custody.”
“The hells she is going any fucking where,” I hiss. “Leave her out of this.”
Amoret’s hands tighten so hard, she digs into the muscle in my side. My fingers flex over her hip and I would give every ounce of fire in my veins for her to be safe inside the manor.
One of the other males steps closer. He whispers something to the first, but his piercing blue eyes never leave my face.
“The manor is not safe for any of you,” the first male says, and I stare at them. “And the female comes too. That is nonnegotiable. The only thing that is, is how you are taken in.”
“Taken in?” My rage spirals higher. “For what? Who are you?”
With no signal, his men raise their weapons. The ends of all those deadly barrels point at me. “Extinguish your flames, Fae,” is all the leader says.
My teeth bare and I force Amoret behind me as I send a single command to my fire. “Go fuck yourself,” I snarl as the flames leap up in a high wall.
His expression never changes, and it’s like looking at stone through the luminous green haze. “Take them,” he says.
The rifles flash in the dimness. I feed my rage into the flames. Numerous rounds punch through the fire before lodging into my arms, legs. I expect the burn of an iron bullet, but there is little pain. I glance down.
Where there should be weeping bullet holes, there are only small darts.
My lips spread into a cruel smile as I glare coldly at the leader. “That’s it? You came to take us, but you only brought tranq guns?”
I throw my hand up, sending my flames across the pavilion toward the soldiers.
A dark haired male in a baseball cap clasps his rifle in one hand before raising his other. My fire hits an invisible wall and rebounds, curling into smoke before it ever reaches the surrounding men.
Even Caine, with all his magick, has never deflected the flames.
I stare over the distance, the first trickle of unease washing through me like ice.
No.
Itisice.
I glance down and the world swims, spinning and darkening all around the edges. My flames sputter. “What—”
Amoret lets out a small whimper behind me. I whirl, my arm almost missing her too small waist as the dizziness in my head increases with the rapid movement.
Her pretty eyes are heavy-lidded, dull.
