Page 31 of Whispers of Ruin
They ignored her as they kept their eyes on where Brokk and that man had disappeared.
“What is she?” someone inquired from behind her.
“I’m guessing a witch,” another replied. “Don’t let her use her hands.”
Fingers seized hers and pulled them apart so she couldn’t move them. From the depths of the dense jungle, the foliage moved and swayed as the sounds of grunts and fists hitting flesh issued from where Brokk vanished.
Her heart raced, and without thinking, she lurched toward him. She had to see him but couldn’t break free of her captors. Frustration filled her to the point where she almost screamed.
She had to see him and know he was okay; every part of her yearned for that reassurance as time slowed to an agonizing pace. When more of the immortals waded into the vegetation after Brokk and that man, Kaylia glanced around and saw the snakelike creatures had all retreated.
It was just her, Brokk, and these other immortals now, and she had no idea what they intended to do with them. She’d used most of her strength to fight off the snakes; if these men and women meant to destroy them too, they were in trouble.
As she stood there, waiting for something to happen, she became aware of the rain pelting her. Her drenched clothes cleaved to her skin, strands of hair adhered to her face, and water trails streamed down her cheeks.
Restrained by the men and unable to wipe it, she tried to blink away the water on her lashes, but the clinging drops blurred her vision. The thunder and lightning had ceased, the crackle of the flames had died, the only noise was the rain pelting the trees and the battle waged within the dark jungle.
Until even that ceased. In the following hush, every frantic beat of her heart thundered in her ears as she pleaded to Hecate for Brokk to emerge. It seemed to take forever, but finally, the foliage parted, and the men emerged.
Held in the grasp of four men, with the man he’d been fighting holding Brokk’s sword to his back, they marched Brokk toward her. Bruises marred his cheekbones, blood trickled from his temple and the corner of his mouth, but he didn’t look defeated as his eyes blazed a fiery red.
Two welts had formed on the man’s temple and cheek. He wiped blood from his nose as he glowered at her and Brokk.
“What do we do with them, Ryker?” one of the men holding her inquired.
“We’ll bring them to our camp and find out why they’re here,” the man replied as he jabbed the tip of his sword into Brokk’s back. “Move.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
The rain had nearly stoppedwhen they were led into a small clearing in the jungle. Tucked beneath the thick boughs of the trees, hastily assembled huts and shanties leaned against the branches.
More men and women stood guard around the clearing, but a small group of women sat around a fire in the middle. The scent of spices and herbs drifted from the cauldron one of them stirred.
As they entered the clearing, the women rose from their seated positions. One looked familiar, but Kaylia couldn’t place her.
“Kaylia?” the woman inquired as she stepped forward.
Kaylia’s confusion deepened as the woman with golden blonde hair and deep brown eyes glided toward her. Then Kaylia remembered the woman was a witch she’d met a few times over the years.
The woman would sometimes come to visit her grandmother in the crone realm. She was much younger than her, but Kaylia had spoken to her a few times.
“Allegra?” she inquired.
The pretty woman broke into a grin. “Yes.Whatare you doing here?”
“What areyoudoing here?” Kaylia retorted.
Allegra’s smile faltered when she stopped before Kaylia, and her eyes darted between the guards. Her forehead furrowed as she planted her hands on her hips and scowled at them. “Let her go.”
“Fuck no,” Ryker retorted. “Not until we learn why they’re here.”
“You can’t keep her a prisoner like this. She’s the oldest living witch.”
“Well, good for her, but I don’t give a fuck.”
Allegra’s brows drew sharply together over the bridge of her nose as she glowered at him. She had no fear of this man, which Kaylia found a little reassuring since she and Brokk remained prisoners. If someone not of their race of immortals could stand up to them, then they might not chop off their heads.
“She could be extremely useful to you,” Allegra stated.
