Page 4 of Shackled to the World
Eddie noted the gesture, but instead of being perturbed, he shrugged. “She needed me.”
As if that explained everything.
She must have snorted, and Eddie’s face lost all humor.
“I would protect you with my life.” He leaned closer, until he was in her face, daring her to deny it. “I’m the only one standing in the way of you having all your choices taken from you. Phantoms aren’t like shifters or vampires or witches. You never leave the family. You do as you’re told or you suffer dearly for your disobedience. I didn’t agree with that way of life. I was a complication they needed to eradicate, so I banished myself to the nothingness of the afterworld before they could break me to their will.”
“You’re royalty.” She knew it deep in her bones. That they would do such a terrible thing to him…what would they do to her if they ever found her?
“So are you.” He straightened, his lips tightening. “And they won’t stand for either one of us disobeying the elders. When they find us—and they will find us—we’ll have no choice but to fight. They’ll either demand we return or try to eliminate us. Only together might we be strong enough to escape our fate.”
Chapter Two
Xander reluctantly loosened his hold on Annora, already missing her as she pulled away, and the three of them began to walk back toward the house. He watched Annora carefully, furious that he couldn’t do anything to help her. She was so focused on getting Logan back, she was physically and mentally pulling away from him and the rest of the guys in the process.
Every day she became more distant. The harder he tried to hold on to her, the faster she slipped from his grasp, and it was crushing him.
His gryphon ruffled his feathers at the thought of losing her, and he wished he knew how to fix everything. The only thing he could do was train her and wait and hope it wasn’t too late to save Logan. Xander very much feared if they failed to rescue the kitsune, Annora would never forgive herself.
He glanced at Eddie over her head. While he wasn’t sure he could trust the guy, Xander didn’t doubt the man would do anything for Annora, his devotion to her clear to anyone who looked. For now, it was good enough for Xander.
As long as Annora was willing to put up with the man, he could stay.
As they approached the house, Xander nudged her arm. “He’s right about one thing…you need to heal before you go inside. If Mason catches sight of your bruises, he’s going to lose his shit again.”
They made the mistake—although only once—of allowing Mason to accompany them to the stadium to help train Annora. When Eddie went after her hard, pushed her for more, repeatedly putting her on the ground, Mason completely lost it. He transformed into his troll, stomping around for nearly an hour, determined to rip Eddie’s head off.
Only Annora was able to calm him, and the man attached himself to her side for the rest of the day, roaring at anyone who got too close. Xander wished he could allow himself to lose control like that, give in to the near-fanatical need to tuck her away someplace safe as his beast urged, but it wouldn’t help either of them.
Instead, he watched her get the crap beaten out of her day after day, his gut churning with acid. He couldn’t sleep at night, could barely function when she was out of his sight. In no time at all she’d become everything to him.
And he was afraid if anything else happened to any of the guys, she would shatter.
Annora sighed, and he gave her a smile of encouragement and held out his hand. “Heal. You’re tethered to me. My touch will keep you from slipping into the afterworld.”
“She’s never going to learn to do it herself if she keeps using you as a crutch,” Eddie grumbled, more in protest than jealousy. “You’re not always going to be around to protect her.”
Over my dead body.
“Maybe, maybe not, but I’m here now.” When Annora accepted his hand and smiled up at him, he silently vowed to do everything in his power to keep her safe.
He hadn’t been there for her last time—and it cost them Logan and broke her heart.
He would not fail her again.
* * *
Annora squeezed Xander’s hand, grateful for his silent support. It had been a week since she visited the afterworld, and she missed it, her body actually aching, her skin tingling as she fought the pull. Being near the guys was the only thing that made it better, gave her even a fraction of peace and made her forget for a few minutes.
But she didn’t deserve it.
She was afraid if she allowed herself to feel anything but anger, she would drown in her loss and pain and never surface again.
She couldn’t abandon Logan that way.
She wouldn’t.
He was counting on her, and she was determined not to let him down again.
