Page 62 of Shackled to the World
“It’s not a big deal—”
“There are things in the banished lands that hunger for a taste of someone like you.”
Annora glanced around the afterworld, convinced he was shitting her. “I—
“Not to mention if you go back to the house injured, the guys will never let you leave again and your rescue mission will fail.” He spoke bluntly, but his eyes were glued to the blood soaking into her pant leg, as if seeing her wounded hurt him in some way.
But he did have a point. If the guys saw she was hurt, they’d never let her leave.
Giving him a nod, she swirled her hand in the air and the dark particles spun at her feet. It twisted up her legs like a snake, weaving around her, before skating up to her hip and licked along the injury, gathering into the wound.
Flesh stitched together in a painful wave, and she sucked in a sharp breath, letting it out as adrenaline surged through her veins. Pleasure and pain twisted together as the wound sealed shut, then even the bruise gradually faded.
“That’s not possible.” Sadie looked like she’d seen a ghost, staring at Annora like she was a freak.
Edgar inspected the rip in her clothing where the sword cut through, running the tip of his finger gently along the newly healed flesh, the touch on her sensitive skin making her shiver.
Only when he was satisfied did he grunt and straighten. “We need to head back before your men call in the cavalry.”
Annora nodded, crossing her arms and cocking her head to the side. “What do we do with her?”
The need to keep her men safe rode her hard and being in the afterworld affected her more than she wanted Edgar to know. It wasn’t a threat to her like he seemed to believe…it made her the threat. Breathing in the dark particles made her more volatile and vengeful.
She wanted to leave the bitch there to wander the banished lands the same way she’d left Edgar to suffer alone for all eternity.
As if catching the gleam of her intent in her eyes, Sadie lifted her arm in surrender and carefully crouched and set her sword on the ground. “You can’t leave me here.”
Sadie glanced at her, then turned to Edgar. “I’m not as strong as you. I won’t survive.”
Annora studied Edgar, only to see him wince, refusing to meet Sadie’s gaze.
The girl closed her eyes, then straightened and lifted her chin. Despite her moxie, fear lingered around her like a stench that would quickly attract predators.
And Edgar…he would leave his old friend here to rot.
To keep Annora safe.
She didn’t give a shit about herself, but she worried what it would do to him if he left Sadie to suffer. “Edgar—”
“No.” His head snapped up, and he glared at her. “She tried to kill you. She knows you’re my mate and went after you anyway. She doesn’t deserve your mercy.”
Shame tinged Sadie’s expression for the first time, and she spoke, her voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I thought I was saving you from a spell she cast over you. I didn’t know.”
Then her lips thinned, her face hardened and she turned toward Annora. “You need to know being mated is illegal. If they find out, they’ll do anything to destroy you both, heir to the dynasty or not.”
“But he left that life behind. He—”
“No one leaves…at least not alive. Edgar was the most powerful of us—before you. Because he wants to protect you, he’s betrayed his own kind, and they won’t easily forgive him.” Sadie gave her a bitter smile. “Or you, for being born a half-breed. Daxion might excuse your existence, but never a rogue mating.”
“But you breed your people for more power.” Annora glanced between the two of them. “I don’t understand why this is different.”
Sadie gave her a pitying look. “The elders approve each union—a way to ensure they remain in power. They would never approve someone like you…someone they can’t control. That’s why Alcott was such a threat, why they needed to break him before he could take over. He didn’t believe in the old ways. He wanted change.” Sadie glanced at Edgar, but he refused to acknowledge her. “Instead of bowing down to them, he walked away, preferring to die in the banished lands than obeying your father.”
Guilt over what her father did to Edgar threatened to strangle her.
“Stop it, Sadie. Annora did nothing wrong. She saved me, pulling me out of the afterworld without even knowing what she was doing. She’s even stronger than her father…and you know as well as I do that he won’t allow her to live unless she’s completely under his control.”
At the ominous tone, Annora stared at them, waiting for them to elaborate.
