Vincent watched him for a moment, drawing out Eva's agony, before he finally flicked his fingers at someone hiding in the trees. "That's enough."
Eva gasped, sucking in a deep breath as the vines abruptly loosened. She held very still, despite the instinct pressing her to struggle.
She tried to control her rapid breathing as the men forced Caden toward the vines.
"We'll leave you two lovers to get reacquainted," Vincent said.
A vine wrapped around Caden's leg and pulled him deeper. Jason whimpered as the vines holding them rustled as others snaked across the ground to wrap tightly around Caden.
"Don't bother struggling. The more you do, the more they tighten." Vincent pointed at one of the lumps. "Struggle enough and they'll pulverize you. You don't want to end up like one of us common folk do you?"
There was a scream of challenge, followed by the sound of breaking branches as Sebastian landed hard only feet away.
"We were wondering where you'd got to." Vincent glared at the Kyren. "You were supposed to bring them days ago. He's going to be displeased."
Sebastian pawed the ground, half-rearing as he let out another scream.
"What's he doing?" one of the men asked.
Vincent's sigh was annoyed. "Who knows?"
"Probably wants his little harem back," Kelly said snidely. "Well, too bad. You broke the agreement."
Sebastian let out another scream, leveling his horns at the men.
Vincent raised an eyebrow. "None of that now, or she'll end your bastards’ before they even take their first breath." His smile turned nasty. "Pierce said we'll get our first pick of the new foals once they're born."
Sebastian's nostrils flared.
"That's right, there's nothing you can do, if you want them to live," Vincent said, moving off. "And don't you forget it."
He and the others moved into the trees, leaving Sebastian, Eva and the rest behind.
"It was all a trick?" Eva's voice sounded lost and alone.
Sebastian shifted so he wasn't looking at them.
"You might as well own what you did," Eva said, allowing none of the betrayal licking her insides to show. "After all the times I listened to you and Ajari call humans deceptive, when it was really you who was the betrayer in the end."
She'd liked the Kyren. Put her neck out for him.
"I never should have saved you." Eva settled back into her vines, angry recriminations stinging her insides.
Sebastian bowed his head, sorrow and shame in every line of his body.
His tail flicked with agitation even as he faced away from them.
"Does anyone have a plan for how to get out of here?" Jason asked hopefully.
"Working on it." Caden shifted and Eva caught a glimpse of metal.
"You staged that fight to get a weapon," she said in realization.
He flashed her a grin. "You didn't think I'd surrender if I didn't have a way out of this."
She kind of thought he had.
"The rest of our weapons are on the short man with the scar under his jaw," Jason said helpfully. "They thought I was asleep, but I saw them take mine and Eva's dagger."
