I blinked, trying to clear my vision. An abandoned mining camp. I’d heard stories about this place but had never come this far into the foothills. The remains of several wooden buildings created an uneven half-circle around a central clearing. Tools and equipment long forgotten lay scattered and rusting. A track disappeared into the side of the mountain, the mine entrance partially collapsed, what was left held up by wooden supports that had survived decades of neglect.
The place had an eerie quality, as if time had simply stopped here. Nature was slowly reclaiming the site, with young trees growing through collapsed roofs and vines crawling up the sides of structures still standing. The camp sat in a small valley between two slopes, well-hidden. Perfect for someone who didn’t want to be found.
“Finally awake.” A voice came from my right.
I turned my head, wincing as pain lanced through my skull. A man sat on a camping chair several feet away, cleaning his fingernails with a knife. Not one of the men who’d taken me,but the resemblance was there in the same hard eyes, the same efficient movements. Another of Will’s people?
“Water,” I croaked, my throat dry as clay dust.
The man regarded me before reaching for a canteen lying on the ground by his feet. He approached, keeping the knife visible, and held the container to my lips. I drank, water spilling down my chin and onto my shirt.
“That’s enough.” He pulled it away too soon, returning to his chair. “Boss wants you alive for now. How does it feel to be bait?”
The word dropped like a stone in my gut. They were using me to lure Allie here without Tressa.
I tested the ropes binding my wrists behind me, careful to keep my movements subtle. The fibers were coarse and tight, but there was a tiny bit of give. If I worked at it long enough, I might be able to create enough slack to free one hand. I kept my expression neutral, not wanting to alert the guard. As much as I wanted to bellow and try to rip this place apart, I could tell I was too tightly secured to free myself. It would take patience and subtly.
“How long was I out?” I asked, trying to gauge how much time had passed.
The man shrugged. “Not long enough.”
I’d bet it had been long enough for Allie to discover I was missing. What would she do now?
I knew my mate. She’d do anything to save me, even at risk to herself. The thought sent fear roaring through me, sharper than the pain in my head.
Around us, the forest was alive with sounds. Birds called from the trees, small creatures rustled in the underbrush. A light breeze carried the scent of pine and earth. Such a beautiful setting for something so ugly.
“Your boss is Will Carmichael?” I asked.
The guard gave me a flat stare. “You know who he is.”
“I know he’s been causing trouble for my mate.”
“Yourmate.” He almost smiled. “That’s what you orcs call your women, right? Sounds possessive.”
I didn’t take the bait. “Where is he now?”
“Around.” The guard gestured vaguely. “Setting things up for yourmate’sarrival.”
The casual certainty in his voice made my blood turn to ice. They expected Allie to come, which meant they would’ve left instructions, likely with threats to ensure her compliance.
I worked my wrists against the ropes while keeping my shoulders still. The rough fibers scraped my skin raw, but I felt them giving, bit by bit.
Footsteps approached from behind one of the buildings, and the guard straightened, suddenly alert. A moment later, a male wearing a starched shirt and dress pants walked into the clearing, his expensive shoes appearing out of place on the dirt path. Even before he turned to face me, I knew this had to be Will Carmichael.
He looked nothing like the monster I’d imagined. Tall and slim, with carefully styled hair and the kind of face that belonged in the business forums. I’d seen his picture on Allie’s phone, but this male possessed the cold, calculated gaze of a predator.
“Hail, I presume.” His voice came out cultured, pleasant even. “I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but we both know that would be insincere.”
I said nothing, watching him.
“Not much of a talker? That’s fine.” Will walked closer, studying me with casual interest. “I know plenty about you already. You’re from the orc kingdom. You and your brothers came here and built the quaint tourist town in the middle of the valley. You’re a potter. Owner of a moderately successful tourist attraction in that charming little town. And most relevantly, lover to the woman who has hidden things that belong to me.”
“Allie doesn’t have anything of you-you-yours.” I kept my voice steady.
“Now, see, that’s where you’re wrong.” Will smiled, the expression never reaching his eyes. “Her father took some very valuable objects from me before his unfortunate accident. Allie is the key to recovering them.”
“What accident?” I already suspected the answer.
