21
"Ye always were a squealer," a husky voice hissed in Izzy's ear. Her heart thumped frantically against her ribs, threatening to leap out of her corpse. "I should have silenced ye all those years ago."
Something stung her shoulder.Izzy didn't know if it came from an insect or a blade. All she knew was the burning sensation wouldn't stop as she felt yet another slash across her face.
"Izzy!Answer me, love. Where are ye, lass?" Aaron's voice was so close, it sounded as if he were right on top of her. Izzy couldn't understand why Aaron couldn't see her. She tilted her head, trying to spy through the sliver of a hole in the burlap sake covering her face.
"Aar—"
"Ye'll be still,or ye're beloved will find yer lifeless body right where I drop ye," the man growled. The threat in his voice struckIzzy like a javelin to her chest. Fear crawled over her like ants marching up her spine. She froze in place as the warmth drained out of her body. The hair on the back of her neck tickled as it rose. Aaron was so close; she could feel him inches from her.
"Come out now,"Aaron ordered. "And I'll spare yer life, but if so much as a single hair on her head is damaged, I'll run ye through."
"Who do ye think yer talkin'to lad? Ye think I'm scared of the likes of ye? Who do ye think started all the rumors and kept them alive in the minds of yer servants? Oh, how easy people turn when ye give them a monster, and ye became me perfect pet."
"Caiden?"Aaron called. Izzy's body went rigid as the name clung to her like barnacles on the bottom of a ship. Where had she heard that name before? It was like a frayed memory dancing on the edges of her mind.
Caiden…
"Ye can hidelike the snake ye are, but I'll smoke ye out eventually," Aaron shouted. Izzy closed her eyes as her mind played with the idea of Aaron rescuing her. But unless there was some way to show Aaron where she was, all hope was lost.
Izzy shifted.Caiden's grip around her tightened until all the air had been squeezed from her lungs. With no wiggle room to make a commotion, Izzy was left with one option. Squeezing her eyes shut and setting her jaw, Izzy threw her head back.
"Ye bitch."
Flashes of lightfilled Izzy's vision as pain rippled around her skull to her forehead. She heard something crunch like gravel under her footing but much closer. All she could hope was that it was her attacker's nose she had broken, but by the cursing that followed, she was certain her luck had just run out.
"Aaron!"Izzy screamed out in desperation the second the clamp over her mouth dropped. She didn't have a clue where she was going, only that with her head covered and hands bound before her, she was at her attacker's mercy.
"Izzy? IZZY."
"Aaron?"Izzy gasped his name, choking on it as she struggled to put one foot in front of the other. She clawed at the covering over her head, desperate for clean, fresh air instead of the hot stagnate air she'd been gulping down like muddy water.
"Nay ye daenae,"Caiden growled.
Sharp nails duginto Izzy's arm, yanking her back from the light. The hope she had clung to and groped slipped through her fingers like sand in an hourglass. She reached out as she flew back into the grasp of her enemy.
"Ye broke me nose,"Caiden yelled into Izzy's ear as he pulled her to him. How different he felt against her compared to Aaron. Themalice radiated off him like the stench from the bog, repelling all to steer clear.
"And I intendto do much more than that," Aaron growled as Izzy tried to keep her wits about her. If only the sack would be removed, then the world wouldn't be such a scary place. At least then, she'd be able to see Aaron once more.
The facthe come for her barely phased her; it was the fierceness and loyalty that flowed so freely out of him. From the moment he had met her, Aaron had taken care of her. He had saved her from the bandits on the road and in the village, and even now, in the forest, he was there, ready to die for her.
Izzy's chesttightened at the thought of losing the only man whoever truly cared for her. Sure, Aaron didn't dote on her the gifts of expensive jewelry or fancy dresses, but what he offered was far more valuable; it was his soul, his heart, and his body laid bare before.
With every ounceof strength and courage Izzy could muster, she thrashed about, kicking and fighting as best as she could. It didn't matter to her that Caiden's blade cut into her shoulder and neck. She could feel the sting of his blade making cuts, but as long as Caiden was distracted by her, Aaron wouldn't be in danger.
"Ye'll payfor each one of those," Aaron shouted as a darkness fell over Izzy. For a moment, she couldn't help but wonder if death itself had swooped over them, taking the vile souls with him.
"I dare ye to come closer,"Caiden hissed as Izzy felt the ground slip away from under her footing. Her heart fluttered with anxiety. It was bad enough Izzy couldn't see Aaron one last time, but to never glimpse into the heaven's again either was plain cruel. "I'll toss her like the rubbish she is."
"Caiden,leave her be; yer quarrel is with me. Leave her out of this," Aaron pleaded. His voice was further away than Izzy would have liked. She sucked in quick shallow breaths as she tried to keep her wits about her. By the way Caiden's arm curled around her, she wasn't going anywhere. Whatever hope she had of escaping or getting free was gone. She was at Caiden's mercy.
"Oh,isnae that sweet. He doesnae realize ye and I have known each other for years. In fact, I'm fairly confident that I've haunted ye on more than one occasion," Caiden said. Malice mingled with pleasure that tainted his tone. Little bumps rose over Izzy's skin causing her to shiver like the last leaf in winter.
Confusion prickedIzzy like a needle poking through fabric. Yet, with each jab, Izzy felt as if she were remembering something she had forgotten long ago. Caiden chuckled darkly as the memory that had been skipping around her mind came to light.
"You're Melina's father,"Izzy grunted as Caiden jostled her about, letting her understand he could throw her over the cliff at any second.
