"Someone's coming," Jason murmured.
"Can you hide?" Eva asked the fox, not wanting him to be discovered. Her guess that he might be immune because he was a mythological was just that, a guess. She didn't want to risk his life on such a small chance of success.
The fox disappeared into the branches, his coat helping him blend in surprisingly well. There was only the faintest rustle of leaves before she felt his warm weight settle against her side.
Eva relaxed back into her prison, closing her eyes until she peered out at the world through narrow slits.
"This place gives me the creeps," someone was saying. "How much longer do we have to stay here?"
"Until we get what we came for," Vincent snapped. "Quit bellyaching."
"Why haven't we killed him yet?" another of the throwaways asked.
A pain-filled groan sent Eva's heart leaping. She was glad she couldn't move when she caught sight of Caden sagging in two of the men's hold. Otherwise, she might have raced to his side and damn the consequences.
"They want him alive. He's close to the Warlord and will have intel we can use," Vincent said.
"I have a score to settle with him,” the first man argued.
Vincent waved his hand. "Make it quick."
The man’s smile was nasty as he faced Caden. He punched Caden in the face before grabbing his shirt and jerking him up. "Wake up, trash. You don't get to sleep through this."
Caden lifted his head, a slight smirk on his lips. "What makes you think I'll even feel your pitiful punches?"
The man snapped. He hammered blow after blow onto Caden before kicking him in the stomach. Caden didn't make a sound, letting him do what he would without moving, his face an expressionless mask.
"That's enough, Kelly," Vincent said finally, dragging him back. "I said you can't kill him."
Blood ran down Caden's face as his lips curled in a nasty smile. He spit a glob of blood on the ground. "Like I said, barely felt it. There's a reason you Lowlanders fill the bottom of our ranks. You're weak."
"I'll show you weak," Kelly snarled. He jerked away from the people holding him.
This time, Caden was ready, rising to meet the attack head on. The man's momentum carried them into the dirt and they rolled, fists flying. They tumbled over each other, first the throwaway on top and then Caden, then the throwaway again. When they finally came to a stop, Caden had gained the dominant position and buried his fist into Kelly’s face with a vicious, single-minded intensity.
Vincent appeared over him, blade in hand as he touched it against Caden's throat. "That'll be quite enough of that."
Caden went still. "Death holds no fear for me."
"Maybe not for you, but what about the woman you're sweet on," Vincent said, nodding his head at Eva.
She couldn't even pretend to be unconscious as she watched, terrified she was going to see Caden killed in front of her.
"Get up, nice and slow or you'll get to watch her die," Vincent said.
Eva shook her head, mute. She didn't want him to surrender because of her.
Caden’ lips tightened, his muscles bunching.
"Do it," Vincent said.
The vines around Eva’s neck tightened, cutting off her air supply. She couldn't help the small sound of pain that escaped as they wound tighter and tighter, squeezing the life out of her.
Caden relaxed, the tension sliding out of him as he held his hands away from his sides.
Vincent's smile was nasty. "I knew you'd see reason. Not such an uneducated barbarian after all."
Caden didn't respond, his gaze locked on Eva.
