Something was coming and it was big.
I didn’t slow but I made sure to keep my focus on my surroundings. And the faster I moved, the more I felt as if I were being dragged back, as if I were trapped in a riptide and being pulled under.
It was as if I were wading through thick pudding, my footsteps harder to make, my muscles straining as I kept moving forward.
Sweat was dripping down my temples and sliding along my face as I bared my teeth and roared, trying in vain to take another step, and another, but before I could do that, I was pushed forward by an unseen force and fell to my knees, something heavy and hard all around me.
I slammed my hands onto the ground, trying to push up, but whatever was keeping me down was the strongest thing I’d ever fucking experienced.
And I couldn’t even fight back, which pissed me off even more.
I roared, my arms shaking, my muscles straining. I dug my claws into the earth and used all the strength I could muster to push myself up.
It was like trying to melt into cement, my body refusing to go through this invisible force. But my female had been taken from me, and nothing would stop me from getting to her.
I stood straight, sweat dripping into my eyes. My entire body shook with the force of trying to stay upright.
A sonic wave blasted and threw me back ten feet, causing me to collide with a tree, the force so powerful the air was knocked out of my lungs.
I shook my head to clear it and rose, ready to face off with whoever—or whatever—presented itself.
But then male after male stepped into the clearing and made a line to the left and right, leaving the center open.
Everything in my body stilled as I stared at the last male to step through the forest and take that center spot.
I was pretty sure I’d fucking cracked my head harder than I thought, because surely I wasn’t seeing—
“Hello, cousin.”
Chapter
Seventeen
Ada
A heavy thud sounded right in front of me, and I stared, aghast, at what looked like a furry calf lying in front of me.
Diablos then tossed what I could only—disgustingly—assume was the bladder of said animal, water splashing out of it from the vines that secured the top.
“What is that?” My tone dripped with disgust as I stared at the carcass and bladder, then looked up at him.
“Dinner.” His tone was bland, as if he thought I were stupid for not seeing the obvious.
“I’m not eating that.” I curled my lip and tipped my chin up in indignation. “Do you want me to get sick and die? I kind of need my food to be cooked. Not to mention I’m not about to drink water out of an animal’s bladder. Pretty sure you didn’t sanitize that shit.”
I used my foot to push both items away until they bumped against his shin.
He looked down at it, kicking it back toward me, the leg hitting my foot hard enough that blood from the stump smeared across my pants.
“Eat up. We are leaving after. I won’t stop because your little Fae stomach growls for sustenance.”
“Leaving for where?” I couldn’t stop the panicked tone in my voice.
“Far away, little thing.” He turned and picked up what might have been an arm for all I could tell as he brought it to his mouth. He tore at the flesh with his teeth, blood dribbling down his chin.
I placed the back of my hand over my mouth as my gag reflex rose up. Coupled with the nasty stench in the cave, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I turned to the side and threw up, but I didn’t have much in my stomach, so it was more dry heaves than anything.
“Are all Otherworld beings as fragile as you, weakling?”
I spit out to try and clear the sour taste from my mouth, making sure to stare at him as I did it.
“I’d rather starve.” I pulled my legs up to my chest, wrapped my arms around my knees, and presented my side, refusing to look at him.
I didn’t know how long we sat there in silence, or more so me trying to ignore his constant pacing. It was getting to the point where it was obnoxious and distracting.
I’d hoped that he’d take some time to rest, maybe sleep so that I could figure out how to escape, but I’d had no opportunity.
Resting my head on the rock, I exhaled. Gods, I wanted to sleep for an eternity. I wanted to have Sebastian hold me again as he kissed the top of my head, then the side of my face, and slowly pressed his lips to mine.
He’d show me how soft and gentle he could be even if it wasn’t in his nature.