“There’s smoke coming from the tent,” someone yelled outside.
Footsteps sounded around the tent, and the flap was thrown open as several people rushed in. I couldn’t tell how many, but as soon as they cleared the exit and started coughing, I slipped out and took off at a full pelt, heading south.
The messenger bag bounced at my hip as my arms and legs pumped. A line of trees stood several yards ahead, and I ran faster, eager to hide behind their foliage. I was almost there when a shape dropped from one of the many branches overhead and landed in a crouch in front of me.
“Going somewhere?” the female Fae asked with a wicked grin.
CHAPTER 3
Iskiddedtoahalt as the tall female stretched to her full height, blocking my escape. I started to run right, but she was there in the blink of an eye. I turned left. The same happened.
Shetskedand shook her head, a curtain of light blue hair swinging around her stunning face. She had clear blue eyes to match her hair, as well as indigo-painted lips and tattoos running along her pale collarbone. She wore a cerulean tunic that hung off her shoulders and was cinched around her waist by a leather corset. Under the tunic, she wore matching leggings and a pair of knee-high boots carved with the same intricate patterns as her corset. A sword hung from a belt at her side.
“Creative, this one,” she said in a husky voice, and the three assholes who took me from the trading post rushed out of the tent and joined us. They were wincing and coughing, and the sharp smell that clung to them was enough to make me wince.
The female wrinkled her nose. “Are you all right?”
Silver nodded, wiping tears from his eyes and clearing his throat. “She must’ve used something from her bag.” He pointed at it.
“Who’s grand idea was it to leave it in the tent?” Kryn’s emerald eyes flicked toward Jeondar.
“They’reherthings,” Jeondar argued, sounding hoarse until he cleared his throat. “I was trying to be nice.”
“I warned you it wouldn’t pay off to be nice. I told you I can spot the tricky ones a mile away.” Silver shook his head.
Kryn cursed, mumbled something about stupidity, and walked to a large fire pit. There, he reached into a bucket that sat on the ground, scooped water out, and rubbed his face. The others followed him and did the same, while I stood seething, and wishing death on the entire bunch. If only I had some ability that could help me fight them, but my Skew skills were useless in a fight. I couldn’t shift into a wolf like Toni, use telekinetic powers like Lucia, or blast fire from my hands like Leo. My siblings could have put up a fight. Me, I couldn’t even outrun my captors.
Dammit all to hell.
The blue-haired female circled around to me, assessing me from the top of my head to the tip of my flats, her predatory manner sending a shiver up my spine.
“So this is she?” She didn’t appear impressed.
Silver came around, water dripping from his chiseled jaw. He extended a hand in my direction. “I see you've met Cylea. Good. Now, give me your bag.”
I clung to the strap, wrapping both hands around it.
“Give. Me. Your. Bag,” he repeated.
Kryn huffed. “Just take it.”
Silver took a step forward, but Jeondar moved in front of him.
“I will keep your bag safe,” he said, putting a hand out.
Cursing inwardly, I pulled the strap over my head and handed it over.
“Thank you.” He inclined his head respectfully and gave Kryn a raised eyebrow. “See, youcanaccomplish things through good manners.”
“We would still be arguing with her in Pharowyn if I’d left it up to you.” Kryn marched toward the tent and threw the flap wide open to let the smoke out. He shielded his nose and mouth with his hand and mumbled, “How long is the stench going to last?”
Not long, I knew, but I didn’t contribute that bit of information. Instead, I glanced around, trying to assess my situation a little better. We were in a small clearing, with two smaller tents positioned a distance away from the larger one I’d just escaped. Nine horses stood nearby, tied to a long, low branch and stamping the ground.
The trees around us were thick and tall, blocking the view of what might lie beyond. One thing I could tell, however, the sun was quickly going down, and nighttime would be here soon. My chest tightened at the thought. I felt that the longer I stayed here, the smaller my chances of going back home.
“Take a seat here while the smoke clears.” Jeondar pointed to a log next to the fire pit.
I didn’t want to sit, didn’t want to do anything these people said, so instead, I started pacing like a caged lioness. I wanted to rail, curse their mothers, but I knew it wouldn’t accomplish anything. No matter how haughty and badass they acted, they were not in charge. Someone else was, and he wasn’t here.