Page 68 of Ransomed to the World
She didn’t understand why he turned himself over, knowing what would happen. When he didn’t answer, her stomach turned sour. “Please don’t fucking tell me you were trying to protect me!”
“If I didn’t turn myself over, they would’ve had the whole team taken into custody.” He cast her an indecipherable look at her over his shoulder. “Imprisonment would have been the least of our worries then.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner? We could’ve—”
“There is only one way to get on the island.” Xander pulled her behind a tree when a few soldiers passed close, holding her with an arm around her waist and his other hand over her mouth, and she barely resisted the urge to pull them into the afterworld to hide.
The only obstacle was that she couldn’t be sure whether they could sense phantoms and dark matter.
After a minute of silence, Xander nudged her forward, and they were on the move again. “I didn’t tell you or the others because I knew you’d make me stay behind. The thought of losing you made losing my wings a small price to pay.”
Annora wanted to argue and rage at him, but she kept her mouth shut.
Especially since she would’ve made the same choice.
As they neared the city, Xander swooped down and plucked her off the ground and into his arms, ready to leap over the walls, when Camden emerged from the darkness. Relief brightened his green eyes when he spotted them, then he gave a short hand signal to follow.
The rest of the guys were hidden by a ledge near the bluff.
Mason was pacing back and forth, his size making the narrow path seem even smaller. He’d bulked up, as if preparing for war, and Prem was pacing opposite him, turning with the troll, until they were marching in sync.
The moment she stepped onto the path, they both halted. Mason had his back toward her. He inhaled deeply, then whirled and stormed toward her. His hair swirled around him, defying gravity. His expression was thunderous, and a muscle ticked along his jaw.
When he got to her, he bent nearly in half to shove his face into hers, anger radiating from him until she half suspected her hair was blowing straight back from his roar. “Where the hell have you been?”
Despite knowing that he wouldn’t harm her, she still found him intimidating as fuck, and she steeled herself not to flinch away from him. She straightened her spine, then cupped his face. “Xander was in trouble. He needed me, just like you needed me when we visited the trolls.Ineeded to help him. They were going to take his wings.”
“You don’t play fair.” Mason blew out a heavy breath, his hair wilting, his eyes softening a fraction. “Next time, you tell us where you go. No exceptions. We could’ve helped.”
Annora wanted to argue that there wasn’t time, but it was the very same agreement she’d been trying to pound into Xander’s head just an hour ago.
She didn’t have a leg to stand on, and she knew it. “You’re right. I’ll do better.”
He deflated, the fight going out of him, and he straightened to his full height. The next second, she was smashed against his chest, his arms just short of crushing, and she tucked her head over his heart.
“We need to keep moving.” Edgar’s voice was soft, devoid of emotion. He leaned down and swept up Prem in his hand, letting the little critter clamber up his arm to perch on his shoulder.
Edgar was pissed.
Annora pulled back, her stomach dropping when the other guys remained mute. They were still furious at her for leaving. Not that she could blame them. She fucked up.
She fell into line behind Logan, noting that each of the guys wore a pack. They were heading away from the city. She crept closer to the kitsune and took his hand, feeling anxious as their disappointment beat at her. “Where are we going?”
Logan stiffened at her touch. Feeling foolish, she was about to pull back when he tightened his hold and pulled her closer to him. “The patrols were searching the city. We’re not sure who they’re hunting, but we decided it’d be better if we head for the docks tonight.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. This was her fault. “Do you think it’s Daxion trying to renege on our deal?”
Everyone fell silent at the implications.
“It’s possible, but unlikely,” Edgar said, his voice easily carrying on the wind that swirled around them. “He wants something from you. Without us, he won’t get it. The patrols are probably hunting for fugitives. They do that every six weeks or so.”
“Fugitives?” Xander began scanning their surroundings more closely, as if expecting an attack at any moment.
Edgar shook his head. “Not like you’re thinking. While the troops do uphold the law, they also track down anyone who uses dark matter without permission.”
Annora’s steps faltered. Edgar told her repeatedly to not use her powers, but she hadn’t listened. Now, thanks to her, they were probably fugitives. “Well, uh, then they might be looking for me. When Xander was in trouble, I did everything possible to make sure he’d stay alive. I didn’t hold back.”
Edgar paused, casting her an inscrutable glance, before resuming his pace as they wound their way down toward the beach. Though he didn’t say a word, it felt like a reprimand.
