“Drovo!” she cried out, and I swept her into my arms.
“My mate!” I buried my face in her braids and took in her sweet scent.
“Are you hurt? Did they do anything to you?”She held me at arm’s length to look me over.
“No, they just kept us tied up in a dark cave.”
“Oh, is that all?” She said in a sarcastic tone.
“Let’s get out of here,” Taylor said as she took Brexl’s hand in her own. He did not try to break free of her grasp, but he did not lean into either. His earlier confession played through my mind and it became clear to me that he did not feel worthy of her.
“Let’s go,” he growled.
Brexl and I lifted Kayla and Taylor to the top of the wall, where they slid to the other side and dangled by their fingers before they dropped the short distance to the ground.
Brexl and I climbed up the wall with our clawed hands and I noticed Favalor was climbing next to me.
“I’m going with you.” My younger brother looked at me with such compassion that it broke my heart to tell him no.
“You must stay here with our sire. He is growing old, and will need you to look after him.”
“If we leave and father stays here, the Savrix will punish him for our misdeeds,” Zoru added. He might be the youngest among us, but he held a wisdom that belonged to someone twice his age.
Favalor nodded his head and dropped back down to the ground. I looked down one last time at my brothers, who had grown into mighty hunters.
“I love you both.”
They placed their fists over their hearts and bowed. Tears stung my eyes, but I pushed past the well of emotions I was feeling. I needed to get Kayla out ofhere. Once we were safely beyond the Savrix’s reach, I would feel every emotion this cursed trip forced upon me.
I climbed over the wall and landed on the ground in a squat and Brexl landed next to me. Jelly was already there, hooked up to the chariot, and looking very well fed. Goddess bless my brothers for taking care of Kayla’s pet.
“Hop on,” I motioned for the females to climb onto the mobility device. “I’ll lead Jelly. Brexl, you’ll keep an eye out.”
My dekes brother nodded his head in agreement.
Once everyone was in place, I led Jelly by the leash in a quick jog. The beast wasn’t pleased with the pace I was setting, but he didn’t fight me, either.
The trees were singing a song of trepidation. What were they afraid of? It did not matter. Whatever it was, it would soon be behind us.
I hadn’t gotten very far into the forest when suddenly an arm appeared out of nowhere and struck me in my belly.
I fell to the ground, gasping for air.
“Drovo!” Kayla’s voice reached my ears a moment before I felt her hands on my body.
I looked up to see my attacker. It was Dameron.
Chapter 25
Kayla
That scum! Drovo was wheezing on the ground from Dameron’s unexpected blow, and I wanted nothing more than to lunge myself at the brutal male for hurting my mate. More hunters appeared from behind the trees, and I knew it was over.
“I thought you might try to escape. Now get up. You four are coming with me.”
I untied Jelly from his harness and petted him one last time. I did not think I’d be seeing my pet again.
We followed Dameron back to the valley.
