“I don’t know where you came from, but my sister and I were just leaving,” Ally said, taking Evie’s hand in her own and starting forward, hoping to skirt past the group.
The massive male stalked forward, blocking their path.
“Excuse me,” Ally said, staring him down with her most fearsome expression. It had no effect.
“You’re not going anywhere.” His voice was deep, but still, his eyes were on Evie.
“I beg to differ,” Ally said, shoving at his bulk as she tried to shift around him.
He was immovable, like a giant boulder, and Ally couldn’t push past him. He shifted his steely gaze to hers, grimacing.
“I’m not afraid of you,” she said into his face.
His lips curled up into a fierce smile. “You should be.”
Suddenly, Evie doubled over, letting out a shriek that echoed through the room. Ally turned, grabbing her sister as she went limp, her eyes rolling back in her head.
“Evie!” Ally shouted, shaking her sister as she gently settled her on the floor. “Evie! Wake up!”
The blonde woman laughed again. “Oh, Dredd, you always put on a good show.”
Ally looked back at the three strangers. “What’s wrong with her? What did you do to her?” Releasing Evie, she launched herself at the large male, pummeling his chest. “What did you do to her?!”
The taller male folded his arms over his chest. “As much fun as this is, we should be getting back to Dazimin. Grab the girls.”
Ally continued to struggle against the wall of muscle as he grabbed her arm, his hand squeezing like a vise.
Then something happened that made no sense. Ally could see her sister lying lifeless on the ground, but at the same time, the female was standing where her sister’s body was positioned. It was as if she could see through her sister, see through her body to the blonde woman’s painted toes showcased in open-toed pumps.
How is that even possible?
The blonde woman let out a shriek, grabbing her cheek which had just turned violently red. “The bitch slapped me.” As Ally struggled, she saw the blonde woman stumble backward, landing on her ass in the same space where Evie’s body lay.
What the fuck is going on here?
“Help me out with her,” the blonde snarled as the tall man took her hand and lifted her to her feet.
Ally squirmed around until she lined up her one shot at freedom. Drawing back her leg as far as she could, she kicked forward with all her might, aiming for the bear man’s crotch. Sheconnected, her foot bursting into pain, but the man let out a yowl and his grip slipped enough for her to push free.
The big brute doubled over, and suddenly, Ally saw that her sister wasn’t lying lifeless on the floor. She was fighting with the tall man who’d grabbed her.
“Evie!” Ally launched herself at the male, but he swatted her away, and she flew across the room, skidding to a stop with a groan. Her body ached, but she pulled herself to her feet.
“This is nonsense. We only need the one with the necklace.” The female looked angry. “Let’s go. I’m bored already.”
The male nodded. He threw Evie over his shoulder, then reached out a hand to grip the big man’s shoulder. The female blew a kiss in Ally’s direction just as she climbed to her feet and started toward them. “Bye bye!”
Darkness filled the space in an instant, the four of them vanishing suddenly with the light of the charm.
“No!” Ally howled, dropping to her knees in the darkness.
Evie was gone. Stolen by strangers who were somehow able to teleport. Why?
Ally collapsed in a heap, sobbing. The only thing she’d ever tried to do was protect her sister, and now she was gone with no hope of retrieval. The weight of what just happened hit her and she buckled under it.
She’s gone.
CHAPTER 13
