My thought was broken by Alasdair, who’d not only somehow managed to catch up with me, but also tackle me to the ground.
“What the hell?” I growled as I struggled for control. This guy was not only fast, but strong as hell, too. Before I knew it, he had me pinned, face down in the dirt, with both arms secured behind my back.
“Steady on, lad. No need to make things difficult for yourself,” Alasdair said in an almost assuring tone and I had no choice but to comply. “I only want to talk.”
“Funny fuckin’ way of showing it, pal,” I said through a puff of dust.
Alasdair was clearly in shape, but I ate guys like him for breakfast in the gym all the time. Whatever these freaks did to me back at the warm-up tent must have weakened me.
“If I let you up, will you promise to behave?”
“Behave?” I breathed out. “Man, get the fuck off me.”
Alasdair stood me up, still securing my arms behind my back. It was then I knew I wasn’t weak, and I wasn’t imagining things. This guy was strong. Freakishly strong.
“If I let go of you, are you going to run?” Alasdair asked softly.
I shook my head, and he released his grip.
I spun around to face him but before I could speak, he extended his hand and said, “I’m afraid we got off to a bit of a rough start. Perhaps we can try again.”
“Who the hell are you people?” I asked, leaving his hand unshaken.
“We should go inside,” he replied.
“You should go fuck yourself,” I shot back, dusting myself off. “I’m not going anywhere with any of you freaks.”
“Arric,” he said, looking directly into my eyes. “It’s important that you come with me back to the house. We clearly have a number of things to discuss.”
“What did that woman do to me back there? And why the hell was I glowing?Howthe hell was I glowing?”
Alasdair gestured for me to lower my voice. “I can assure you I have no idea about what happened back in that tent.”
“Bullshit,” I spat out.
“I can also assure you that Isla certainly had nothing to do with it.”
“Like hell she didn’t. She lit me up like a goddamned pinball machine. Not to mention the fact that my brain was in a blender the entire time she was touching me.”
“The entire time?” Alasdair asked, looking confused. “She touched you for half a second at best.”
“Whatever. Play your little games. I don’t really care. I’m outta here,” I said, before turning to leave.
“Mr. Mann. Arric, please. I really do think it would be best if you came with me back to the house. We’ll have a doctor look at you. To make sure you’re alright.”
“The only thing that’s gonna make me alright is getting the hell away from this place and you people,” I said, walking away.
“Þú verður að koma með mér núna.” (You need to come with me now.)
Alasdair spoke the words and my feet turned to lead. I was frozen in my tracks. Completely unable to move. The language he spoke was totally foreign to my ear and yet somehow, I understood and felt compelled to obey every word.
“Ég tel þig vera í mikilli hættu,” (I believe you are in great danger) he continued, compelling me to turn and follow him, which I did willingly.
I say ‘willingly’ because, even though Alasdair was controlling my every move, I wasn’t acting against my will. It was more like I was obeying a primal instinct hidden deep within myself. Iwantedto follow his instructions.
I could hear the roar of the crowd in the distance. The games were starting, and I was suddenly hit by a wave of disappointment. I’d come a long way to compete, and despite current events, I still ached for competition. For battle.
We walked silently through the grounds, away from the festivities, towards what Alasdair called the “house.”
