I strained against my bonds, desperation giving me strength. The ropes had loosened, but not enough.
“Don’t hurt her. Please. She’ll help you f-f-find what you’re looking for.”
Pity appeared in Will’s expression. “For your sake, I hope so.” He nodded to the guard. “Watch him. If he tries anything, shoot him.”
The guard pulled a handgun from the holster on his hip and nodded.
Will walked toward the path where the vehicle had stopped, disappearing around one of the buildings. My heart pounded in my chest, fear for Allie overwhelming everything else.
I twisted my wrists hard, ignoring the pain as the ropes bit deeper. A little more. Blood slicked my skin, making it easier to slide against the fibers. One hand, that’s all I needed. Just one hand free.
The guard watched the direction Will had gone, his attention divided. I took the opportunity to strain harder against the ropes, feeling them give another fraction.
I thought of Allie walking into this trap and facing Will, not knowing he’d killed her father. The image fueled my desperation, giving me strength.
The rope around my right wrist loosened enough that I could feel my fingers again. Blood trickled down my palm, hot and sticky. I rotated my wrist, testing the give in the binding. Almost free.
In the distance, I heard voices. Will’s smooth tones, and someone’s response. Had she come for me, walking straight into the trap?
I’d destroy this place before I let them touch her.
The guard turned back to me, his expression unreadable. “That must be her. Guess your matedoescare. Won’t do either of you much good, though.”
I didn’t respond, focusing all my energy on freeing my hands. The rope slipped another bit. Blood made the fibers slick. One more good pull might do it.
“You’re w-w-wasting your time. The police w-will be looking for us.”
The guard snorted. “In these mountains? They wouldn’t know where to start. And by the time they figure it out, we’ll be long gone.” He advanced closer. “It’s going to be fun making yourmatetalk.”
Chapter 25
Allie
My heart pounded as I sprinted along the back alley, keeping to the shadows, Tressa matching my pace. Will’s note burned in my pocket. Thirty minutes left. Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight. Each second ticking away felt like another drop of Hail’s blood on my hands.
The mental image of my mate, bound and in pain, sent a wave of nausea through me. I forced it down. Falling apart wouldn’t help him. The precious minutes were slipping away, and with them, Hail’s safety.
“Aunt Inla will know what to do,” I told Tressa, though I was trying to convince myself. “She can radio the others.” Why hadn’t I noted where I’d placed my radio? I was busy acting like I wasn’t too worried.
Come alone, Will had said, and everything inside me told me to obey. But that’s what they told people to do in the movies, and it never turned out good for the person taken or the sole individual who came after them.
No, I’d get help, though I’d be careful.
The general store partway down the block, and I had to climb in through a back window, landing hard on the wooden floorbeneath. Tressa leaped in gracefully behind me. Rising to my feet, I crept across what looked like a storeroom, creaking open the door at the end.
“Aunt Inla,” I hissed.
The orc woman stood in front of a counter, but she turned, her eyes widening at the sight of my nose poking through the narrow opening.
With a tilt of her head, she left the counter and came to the door, blinking when she saw it was me.
“Allie? What’s happened?”
I latched onto her arm and tugged her into the storeroom, securing the door behind her. A glance over my shoulder told me no one was peeking through the sole window. Good. There was a solid chance I’d reached the general store without any of Will’s people seeing me.
“Will took Hail.” My voice came out a croak. “He left a note. He wants me to come alone or they’ll hurt Hail.”
My hands shook as I pulled the crumpled paper from my pocket and held it toward her. The crude map blurred as tears swam in my eyes. I blinked them away. Crying wouldn’t save Hail.
