Page 77 of Ransomed to the World
Awareness flickered to life inside her, and she stared up at him, as if desperate to believe him. The rest of the guys edged closer, offering their support with a touch or a brush of lips. When she gave a jerky nod, he picked her up and held her close, trying his best not to crush her.
She’d survived so much in her life that he forgot sometimes how small she actually was until she was in his arms. She was so light it took no effort to carry her, the weight of her no heavier than the blanket he usually covered himself with at night, and he couldn’t help but worry if she was eating enough.
Her heartbeat eased back to normal, and the darkness gradually faded from the room. Only when she lifted her head did he reluctantly release her and force himself to lower her back to the floor instead of chucking the captain off the ship and sailing away with her like he really wanted.
He’d do it without hesitation too, if he thought she’d let him get away with it.
Her eyes flashed around the room, as if searching for escape, her posture stiff and brittle. He stepped behind her, prepared to chase her into the afterworld if she ran. Then her chin went up and her shoulders went back as her usual indomitable courage returned. She leaned against him in silent thanks, and joy suffused him.
The room was destroyed, wood rot making the ceiling sag dangerously. The floor was thick with lime green slime, an inch of sludge swirling around their ankles. The walls looked like they’d reverted back to trees, gnarled and twisted roots hanging down to the floor while large branches reached for the ceiling.
Not a normal tree.
Worse…it oozed black sludge that smelled toxic to him.
When Xander reached to touch it, Annora lunged and grabbed the back of his shirt, yanking him away. “Don’t.”
“Fuck me,” the captain swore in a hoarse voice. His hands were fisted in his hair as if ready to rip it out, surveying the room with wide eyes.
Annora blushed when confronted with the captain’s half-naked body. She whirled, giving them her back and stared up at the ceiling, as if she suddenly found it the most fascinating thing in the world.
When any of the guys stripped down, Annora’s reaction was the opposite. She stared, practically drooling as her eyes caressed every inch of them, admiration bringing a charming blush to her cheeks. Pride puffed up his chest at knowing he was one of the few men she’d selected, and it was all he could do not to strut in front of her like a damned peacock
With anyone else, she blushed and looked away.
Like now.
Mason scowled at the asshole captain, wondering if he was trying to entice away his mate. He wanted to rip the blanket off the bed and smother the fucker with it.
He nudged Annora toward Xander.
He had no problem sharing his mate with his pack…she needed them all to keep her out of trouble…but he’d be damned if he’d share her with this wanker.
“This is why she can’t do what you want.” Mason nodded, indicating the room, careful not to move when the floor creaked ominously beneath him. “She’s not ready. She needs a hell of a lot more training before she attempts that again. If one of your asshole friends frightens her or pisses her off, chances are a lot of people will die unless at least one of us is there to keep her tethered and grounded.”
“If the council discovers the extent of her powers and learns they can’t control her, they’ll see her as a threat and have her banished.” Edgar marched toward the captain. “Get us off this ship and into the city unseen, and you can consider that payment for her having healed you.”
The captain turned his dazed eyes toward Annora, and Mason snarled at the little twerp. He fisted his hands…one wrong move, and he’d squash the captain’s head like a melon. He leaned forward, getting right in the guy’s face. “If you think to betray her, know I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth, skin you alive, and use your bones as cutlery.”
The captain’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his gulp audible, and Mason nodded in satisfaction. “Now put a fucking shirt on and get us the fuck off this fucking boat.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Annora clutched a tiny oxygen tank in her hand, then leaned over the railing and stared down at the drop to the water some fifteen feet below. “You want to smuggle us in how?”
The captain scanned the shore as the island came into view along the horizon. “It’s the only way to sneak you onto the island without going through inspection and questioning by the patrols. Anyone who tries to go over the walls gets trapped by the spells.”
She peered down at the choppy waters and swallowed hard.
“We can enter through the gate.” Camden came to stand behind her, gripping the railing on either side of her, holding her close.
She leaned against him, cocooned in his warmth, and wanted to stay that way forever. “We don’t have a choice. The old aquifers and aqueducts under the city are the only way we can get in and out without Daxion noticing us. We can’t risk him snatching us off the streets before we have a chance to get in front of the council.”
Annora looked over her shoulder at Mason, concern clutching at her stomach. His head lifted, as if sensing her watching him, and he flashed her a smile and came toward her. Her breath caught at the sexy way he moved, and she bit her lip against demanding that they forget the whole thing.
“You worry too much.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Her nerves got the better of her. “You don’t know how to fucking swim!” she shouted at him.
