“Just let me go,” she demanded, trying to ensure that her voice didn’t shake. She tried as best as she could to appear brave. “If you let me go now, Vander will let you live.”
“He’ll let me live? Silly human. Your boyfriend is no match for me. I warned him, that if he did not cease his pursuit of me, that he would lose something of value to him. So, you can thank him for putting revenge for that ratchet farming village over your life.”
“He’s only doing what is right,” she goaded him. She knew that this man, this shifter, was dangerous. She was proud that Vander would hunt this being to avenge the innocent. She stood tall as she stared him in the eye.
“Your false sense of bravery is almost believable, even downright cute.” He chuckled and advanced on her.
She peered around and knew she wouldn’t be able to outrun a shifter.
“Too bad no one will be here to save you.”
A shiver ran down her spine. He moved closer. Just one look into his eyes, and she knew he was sick in the head.Deranged.
“I’m warning you,” she stammered and stepped away from the tree, trying to back up.
“You’re in no position to threaten me,” he growled and marched toward her.
Fuck this, she thought and took off, running deeper into the woods. His laughter filled the air behind her, and she pumped her arms and pushed herself.
A force hit her from behind, ripping a scream from her. She fell. Her body slid across the hard ground before drawing to a stop. She attempted to roll to her side and found her body unable to do the maneuver. She willed her arms to move, but it was like invisible ropes kept her arms bound to her sides.
“No,” she moaned, fighting with all her might, but her body wouldn’t budge.
“Tsk…tsk…” Gamair’s voice drew closer behind her.
A lone tear made its way down her cheek as she lay there, vulnerable to him.
“Vander,” she whispered, desperately praying he would come for her. He had to. He’d promised he would always protect her.
“I told you, your boyfriend isn’t here to help you.”
* * *
“Vander…”
The faint sound of Faye’s voice filled Vander’s head. His pendant! Excitement filled his chest; he realized she still wore the pendant he’d given her. It would allow him to track her.
“I know where she is,”he informed Feno and Jodos through their mental link. His dragon let loose a huff, and he turned in the direction of the last signal the pendant had given off.
The damn Wetlands.
He should have known Gamair would go there. He just prayed they weren’t too late. He knew what type of carnage was waiting in the Wetlands. Gamair’s dragon loved to feast on rotten flesh that decayed in the murky waters there. His dragon pushed itself faster at the image of Faye, floating in the waters with the decaying animals, coming to mind.
“Where?”Feno’s deep voice broke through his thoughts.
“The Wetlands,”Vander answered.
“You really think he would take her there?”Jodos asked.
“I can sense her through my pendant.”
Curses filled his head. Both Feno and Jodos knew that a dragon’s pendant wouldn’t lead them astray.
“Is she still alive?”Feno asked gently.
“Yes, I heard her voice,”he growled, knowing it was more than just her voice he’d heard. He’d heard and sensed the fear inside her. She was frightened, panicking, and alone.
“We stick together,”Feno reminded them.“No hero bullshit. We stand against him together.”
