A splash of sickly green stained my left peripheral, followed by a voice that said, “Gonna have to ask you to stand down, little lady.”
Chapter 18
“I’ve been assured youprobablywon’t kill me,” the soldier said, a sardonic little twist to his lips. Lit cigarette bouncing with every spoken word, he continued, “But you’ll forgive me if I’m not keen to take any chances after that impressive display, eh?” He jiggled his weapon, keeping it trained on my face, and though it paled in comparison to the brilliance of the piece Asher had held, it was more than capable to turning me into a shocked puddle of goo.
Gaping, I blinked. “How—”Howhad this man, this mundane soldier, managed to stand there all this time without my knowing it?
From inside his woody prison, the captain jerked the chain back inside the hole.
I yelped, trying to scramble back before his grip set—before his ki—
Strong fingers wrapped around my wrist, threatening to either break bone, or drag me inside with him. And with a gasp, my knees turned to water. My heart stuttered and spit, trying to cope. Failing to manage the wave of orderly Elite strength. All that control…
Goddess… his ki! It sang and raged, screaming of conquest. Of triumphant possession. All his careful planning—the risks and the lies—had paid off.
This man was no equal of mine! He was order to my chaos, a soothing balm to the firestorm of hurt tearing me to shreds, and if I’d justlethim ease that pain…
Sobbing, a tattered plea escaped my lips. “Please…”For through the living wood, I could feel another sort of heat. One thatburnedand unmade. Scorching the ties I held to the tomb I’d called into being. That which should have been a final resting place for a man I hated, had become a trap of my own making. With gilded bars and enough to sustain even my endless hunger.
Putting the other soldier to shame, the captain’s weapon blasted through the right side of the cocoon, expending enough ki to turn the night to day and blind my every sense. Freeing his torso and allowing him to draw a ragged breath that ended in a laugh. “You didn’t think it’d be that easy, did you?” the captain said, grinning. And though he was still trapped, still restrained and held, it wouldn’t be for much longer. Not long until he possessed everything he’d come for, and so much more… “Have to admit,” he added, infecting me with his touch, his ki. “You’ve impressed me, yet again, my little warrior. Wasn’t expecting your trick with the plants, ineffective as it might have been.”
The soldier nodded, solemn, ashing his smoke, yet keeping me in his sights. “Never saw anything like it. You sure can pick ‘em, old man.”
With a shrug, the captain said, “To be fair, Marco, Idohave something of an unfair advantage.”
This so-called Marco snorted, inching closer. Weapon never leaving my face. “My momma always said to use whatcha got. Nothin’ unfair about that.”
“Quite right,” the captain replied, pulling me closer.
And in that moment, through the fog of too much, I knew two things withabsoluteclarity.
The Captain of Special Forces had baited me using the one thing he knew I wouldn’t be able to resist.
And I had beenunforgivablyarrogant. Had run straight into this trap—histrap—with eyes wide open. Blind to everything except the surety that I couldn’t fail. That this was a mission given to me by the Divine.
By a Goddess Iknewto be dead, for I had seen Her burn.
A sob escaped my lips, but no matter how I struggled, I could not break his grip. Could not turn away from the hated beauty of his ki, and with every breath, the reasonwhyfaded away…
“Hush now,” he whispered, thumb brushing over twisted skin marking the back of my wrist. Sending a chill racing through my muscles. Over my skin. “It’s over now, pet,” the captain breathed, struggling one-handed to escape the last of my flimsy prison. “You’ll want for nothing—” he kicked at the inside of his cage, crumbling wood both charred and burnt. “And I’ll see that you get justice for your father. I promise you that, girl.”
Tears ran hot and painful down my cheeks. In moments, he would be free, and I… I would not.
“Don’t cry, Priestess,” Asher whispered, and with his free hand, pulled a set of golden bracelets from a hidden pocket in the shadows. Glaith. Not the dirty stuff he’d used on the High Priestess. Pure Glaith ore wrapped in gold.
I wasn’t threat enough to warrant extreme measure.
“Hurry it up, will you?” the soldier hissed, shifting his grip. Turning the muzzle of his weapon away for the first time since he’d made his presence known. Confident in Asher’s ability to hold me, he watched the trees, crushing the burning ember of his smoke, but remained vigilant. “Bind the girl, and let’s get the fuck outta here before someone realizes we’ve gone. I’ve got a lumpy cot and a bottle of the good stuff waiting for me.”
“That wouldn’t bemybottle you’re referring to, would it? I’ve a mind to celebrate tonight,” Asher drawled, bold enough to let his thumb pass over my lower lip. Flooding me with strength and a sense of forced-calm that did nothing to ease the pain chewing my heart into bloody strips. Plucking the feathers from my wings, one by one.
I should have fought—I knew it. Knew just how much I’d hate myself for being taken without spilling so much as a single drop of Caledonian blood.
But it was hopeless.
He had seen the very best I had to offer, and he had weathered it with a laugh. Goddess, he might as well have called me cute and ruffled my hair for all the terror I’d been able to inspire. Knees buckling, I sobbed in earnest, my wrist still caught in a grip I didn’t even try to break. Fingertips held fast to his chest spread of their own accord. Luxuriating in his endless strength.
Stepping free of my ruined cocoon, the captain tucked my pendant beneath his shirt and knelt at my side. “None of that, girl. Warriors don’t cry, hmm? Besides,” he said, tipping my face back. Capturing every drop of my attention in a gaze so black, the Void itself would have been jealous. “You didwell.With you at my side,” he continued, breath sweet and warm against my lips, “none will be able to touch me.”
