Page 16 of Ransomed to the World
“While they might not want me, they won’t want anyone else to claim me either.” He gazed down at the flames pensively.
“When we left, you said you thought they would demand something from me.” She came to stand next to him, allowing her arm to brush his, needing to comfort him somehow. “You don’t think that now?”
He shook his head, then ran his fingers through his hair, a few of the pink strands bouncing back up. “I’m not sure, and that’s what’s worrying me. I don’t want to put you in any more danger than you’re already facing. I—”
“Why don’t you let me decide what I want?” His mouth snapped shut at her rebuke, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
“If it’s a trick, I’m more than capable of handling it.” She gazed up at him, then stepped back and climbed onto the log behind her until they were almost the same height. “You’re mine. You saved me, now it’s my turn to save you. I want you to believe me when I say you’re not going anywhere.”
He leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers, strands of his hair swaying forward to brush lovingly against her face. “I worry that they’ll try to harm you.” His voice dropped an octave until it rumbled in the air between them. “Despite everything they did to me, they’ve never broken me. I’m afraid they already know how hurting you will crush me.”
“Not going to happen.” Annora reached up and cupped his face. “I’ve survived way too much to lose you guys now. Fate wouldn’t be so cruel. If they try anything, know that I’ll hit back twice as hard, and they’ll be begging me to take you off their hands.”
He snorted, his fangs making his smile fierce, and he reached down to tangle his hands in her hair. “You will not put yourself in danger.”
She didn’t argue with him because there was no point.
She would do what was ever necessary to claim him as her own.
“You are mine.” Annora reached up and gripped his wrists. “Don’t give up hope just yet.”
Before she could leave, Mason leaned down and gave her a soft, reverent kiss that was over much too quickly, then set her on the ground, spun her around, and gave her a little push when she just stood there gaping up at him. “Go. You don’t want to keep him waiting.”
Annora wandered blindly through the trees for a few paces, almost startled to see she still held her sandwich. She took a bite, noting the weather seemed cool, as if a touch of snow lingered in the air. The trees were old and crowded, their branches twisted, almost like they had personalities of their own. The undergrowth was snarled in places, while other paths were clear of debris and used as trails for the animals.
Wind nipped at her as she wound higher and higher, and she was thankful the cold didn’t bother her much. She wasn’t sure if her bloodline made her special, or if years underground had conditioned her, or maybe she’d died too many times and the chill of death was just rooted deep into her soul.
However it happened, she was grateful.
The steep incline made her calves ache pleasantly, and she knew Xander was going to make her really hurt by the time he was done. He always did.
As she strolled onto the overlook, her eyes flashed to where she and Camden were just last night, but only memories remained. She scanned the area, but didn’t see any sign of Xander.
Frowning, she stopped dead, then turned in a slow circle.
Maybe it was Mason’s suspicion of a trap that made her take special notice of her surroundings.
She was no longer alone.
Worry for Xander ate at her, but she knew he could take care of himself. She needed to get to the others and warn them trouble was coming.
She didn’t take more than a few steps when she saw him.
Xander was on his knees, beaten and bloody, barely able to hold himself upright. Everything inside her rebelled at seeing his head bowed in submission.
A female troll stood behind him. While Mason’s features were slightly exaggerated, it only served to make him more handsome.
Not so this troll.
Her garish red hair stuck up at all angles, snarled and knotted, her clothes were ragged and bloodied. Despite her face being bruised and battered, a broken nose, split lip, and a gash by her scalp, the bitch was smiling, her upper and lower fangs proud and prominent.
“What did you do?” Anger turned to disbelief, and the chill of the afterworld began to bleed into the world around them.
“Run.” Xander’s voice was raspy. He shrugged off the arm holding him, struggled to get to his feet, only for the female troll to kick his legs out from under him. He landed with a thud, barely able to keep himself from face-planting. He cradled his ribs, so she knew the bitch had done some serious damage. His beautiful face was battered, blood crusting his beard around his nose and mouth.
Fuck that shit.
No way could she walk away and leave him.
