Page 58 of Hidden Fate

Everyone listened without hesitation. It was clear this group trusted Runner, which was good for us.

Doubt crept through our bond from Thorn. He wasn’t sure how to handle this situation.

“I’m sorry we startled you.” I walked over to Thorn, the warriors watching me the entire way, and took my mate’s hand. “That wasn’t our intention.”

“Wait,” the third and final female guard said from the other side of the dark bronze, muscled man. She lifted a hand. “You’re the one Drake is determined to marry.”

Thorn snarled, his pupils slitting. “She ismy mateandwife.” Tension filled the air as the warriors’ expressions turned to various levels of wariness. They didn’t trust Thorn yet, despite the king’s dying wishes. Unfortunately, they’d hit the sorest subject possible when it came to him.

Squeezing his hand comfortingly, I rolled my eyes and pushed my calm toward him, trying to keep the situation from escalating again. Though they’d promised their allegiance to Thorn, it had been on King Arman’s say-so. We didn’t need to scare them away. We needed their help.

“Drake proclaimed he’d make me his wife when he realized Thorn and I had completed our fated-mate bond.” I smiled sadly.

“And he goes cuckoo where she’s concerned because of that.” Saphira snorted as she sidled over beside me. “Hell, even when she was human, those two circled each other like they might combust.”

The jaw of the fiery pale girl on the end dropped. “You werehuman?”

You need to step in,I connected. He had to be seen as our leader. We needed them to be confident about King Arman’s decision.These people will follow you. Just focus on our goal—where Drake isn’t around to terrorize us anymore.

Inhaling, Thorn stepped closer to me and said, “Yes, she was. She got hurt, and I had to change her, or she would’ve died. I had no idea I was changing the woman who would become my fated mate.”

The fiery girl smiled dreamily. “That’s romantic.”

I hadn’t thought about our situation like that, but she was right. No one else had a story like it.

“I’m not trying to be rude, but what Errol said is true. We came to bring you back with us.” Thorn flinched, then added quickly, “Ifyou’re willing.”

That addition wasn’t needed, but that made me fall for him more. It was another reminder of the type of man he was—kind, considerate, caring, and the ultimate leader who would let someone choose what was best for them as long as it didn’t hurt others. And he was all mine.

The ten warriors glanced at one another again, like they were talking telepathically, though it wasn’t possible.

“Actually, we wouldreallyappreciate that.” Runner stepped forward, all sense of wariness removed, as if they’d decided something. “We’re starving, and we’ve been too afraid to go inland. We’ve been staying out here to avoid hikers, though not well enough.” He shook his head and pointed at himself. “My name is Arrow.” He nodded at the others.

“I’m Echo,” the gorgeous dark-bronze freight truck added.

The woman beside him lifted her hand, her warm smile reflecting in her amber eyes. She was about a foot shorter than Echo, and her dark brown hair was pulled into a tight ponytail as well. There was dirt smeared on her cheek, contrasting with her deep tan complexion. “I’m Opal.”

“And I’m Fury,” the fiery girl at the end added bluntly.

The other huge guy flanking Echo introduced himself. “Smokey.”

Putting his rifle through the loop and on his shoulder, the man next to Smokey lifted his chin, his dark brown eyes hesitant. Somehow, his black hair was still spiked, even though he’d been out here for weeks, and his ebony scruff was thick. He was almost as short as Arrow but stouter, and his medium-brown complexion glowed. “Blaze here.”

Beside him was a man with gorgeous tan skin. He had dark, unruly, curly hair and mesmerizing carob-brown eyes. He was only an inch taller than Blaze, but there was something happy about his presence. “Most people call me Amazing, but I also go by Owen.”

“That’s the Prince Heir, and you’re pulling that shit?” The next warrior rolled his pine green eyes. Though he wasn’t as ripped as Echo and Smokey, he was pretty damn close. Light auburn hair hung in his face, and he had black smudges, like war paint, across his cheeks, making his lighter complexion look ghostly compared to everyone else’s.

“He’s Rex,” the woman on the other end added while glaring at the guys. “And I’m Sydney.”

I was hoping I could remember each name.

Thorn stepped in and introduced our group one by one. Once introductions were done, the mood changed. The warriors began to fidget, eager to get away. I didn’t blame them. Though I didn’t mind nature anymore, if I’d stayed out here for as long as they had, my human side would’ve been ready for a shower and clean clothes immediately. They were still wearing their black warrior outfits, and while that had likely helped them blend in, especially at night, it was long past time to do some laundry.

“Follow us,” Theron said, and he started back toward the vehicles, Hydra walking next to him.

Saphira and Brenton followed, with Errol and Vlad next. Thorn and I fell in behind them, and Opal and Arrow followed us. The rest of the warriors broke into pairs, but I didn’t glance back. I wanted to get the hell away from here before Drake and his warriors arrived. They could fly, which meant their travel time would be significantly less than ours, but they would have to wait until it was dark to land. It was getting close to five, so we might hit traffic on the way back to the house. That was fine. I just wanted time for our scents to dissipate.

Our trek was quiet, and though the warriors’ footsteps were steady, something uncomfortable nudged at me. I couldn’t place what it was, but the hairs on my neck rose.

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