Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91002 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
The frostbitten grass of the lawn was a welcome relief. They cut across, went right, and then crossed the street. Branches scraped across the top of her hood. The crunch of boots echoed through the wilderness in front of her. She was the last in line, and her handlers were the slowest.
Water gurgling through the rocks announced the creek. Freezing water doused her feet and licked her ankles, then calves, as they waded through. At least their boots would fill with the icy water. They could share in her misery.
Murmurs filtered back to her, but she couldn’t make out the words. The groups split. Sebastian was carried left with most of the enemy, while she and her two captors went right. Sebastian was the dangerous prize. Once he was properly secured, he could be plied for information, then reprogrammed and used. She was merely a source of information. They’d torture it out of her and then discard her like trash.
At least he had time. They’d handle him with some care. If she could get out of this mess, she could call Ivy House and beg them to save him. They’d have the ability, assuming they could find the holding facilities.
If she could get out of this.
Tears leaking from her eyes, worried she’d never see Sebastian again, she reached for her magic.
TWENTY-FOUR
Nessa
She didn’t have time to be subtle. Couldn’t be in this situation. She wrapped her energy around the two holding her and asserted all her will.
They reacted differently, one jerking in surprise and the other immediately letting go of her arm. Some people were more stubborn than others. She pushed, her energy flowering out now, keeping solid pressure on the weaker-willed one and doing a little more coaxing on Stubborn Guy.
“What are you doing?” Stubborn Guy asked, slowing. His fingers spasmed on her arm. He wasn’t talking to her, but the other guy.
“We don’t need her,” Weak Willed replied, full of conviction. “She’s nothing.”
“We’re…supposed to…” Stubborn Guy sounded confused, his voice wispy. Her magic continued to press on him. “But…we’re…”
“Come on.” Weak Willed moved away. “We did what we came here to do. Let’s go.”
“But…” The fingers slackened, as though Stubborn Guy wasn’t quite sure why he’d been holding her in the first place. “Yeah…”
He didn’t sound completely convinced. He pulled his hand away, but he didn’t move.
A little distance, a little logic, and he’d realize he’d messed up. Nessa had to take the chance while she had it. She doubted she’d get another one, not when they rendezvoused with the holding team.
She changed the message and shoved her will at them as she hurried away.
“Useless,” Weak Willed said, still convinced. “We shouldn’t have bothered to grab her in the first place. She’ll just die—”
Stubborn Guy swore. “We’re supposed to bring her in, you idiot! She’s put a spell on us.”
Damn it!
Nessa kept her magic circling while she ran. But she couldn’t see! She’d gone for walks in this area, followed the creek, checked exit plans, but they all involved her eyes. She hadn’t accounted for darkness, a bag over her head, and her hands tied behind her back.
Her foot hit a rock, and she pitched forward. Footsteps ran after her. She hit a bed of frozen ground and sparse leaves before rolling. Her hood loosened a bit, but not enough to come off. Someone swore, and the other one grunted—were they fighting through their convictions? She couldn’t be sure. Her magic was weakening. She hadn’t built up a lot of endurance yet.
More footsteps, closer. Stubborn Guy had won out.
“No, please,” she said. It never hurt to beg. “Please, I can pay. I can pay you.”
Large hands grabbed her upper arms and lifted her to her feet. Her back hit a hard chest before the configuration of the arms changed. One slid along her back, and the other scooped under her knees.
“Shh, Natasha, I’ve got you.”
That whiskey-rough voice loosened every muscle in her body. A sob choked her, and she twisted in his arms, pushing her face tighter into his shoulder.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he cooed, starting to jog. He turned this way and that as branches brushed across, shielding her from the worst of it as he pushed farther into the trees. His familiar smell enveloped her, amber and woody with a hint of chocolate on his breath. “It’s going to be okay. I’ve got you, little angel. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Sobs of relief and lingering fear for Sebastian shook her body. She kept her whimpers as quiet as possible so he could work. His footfalls barely made a sound. Hell, she’d barely heard him take down her captors. They surely hadn’t seen it coming.
He stopped and then bent. “Stand here, little angel. I need to shift, and then I’m going to fly you out of here, okay? I had to fly ahead of the others. We need to meet up with them and see what’s next. Curse me, baby, you’re freezing. It’s okay. I’ll try to envelop you as much as possible. Just hang on.”