Two scars were all that remained of the bite. I put the crystal around my neck and decided one bite was definitely worth it for the gift. I squeezed the crystal in my hand, in a grip begging it to get me through this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
WHITE
It had taken a few hours to get out of Sahara’s forest. The stream that flowed through it was too murky to be appealing for Gallant or me, so I stopped at the nearest water source outside.
I felt untouchable with the crystal around my neck as if no one could catch me unawares again. And then panicked when it began to glow. I had no idea how to handle this situation. I stood frozen like a statue in the sparse woods while I listened, but only heard the breeze blowing the leaves around.
Then my ears picked up muffled horse whinnies and voices in the distance. I was reluctant to move, but after standing in the same spot for minutes with only a fast heartbeat and ultra-sensitive hearing, I had to do something.
I walked towards the muffled sounds, careful not to make much noise. I crept up to the side of a cliff, and the crystal glowed the brightest yet. A cold sweat covered my skin.
White was all I could see.
The white of the Untouchables.
Many tents decorated the valley while hundreds of men in white took up the area. I didn’t have too much time to take it all in because a white-clad arm grabbed me around the waist.
Adrenaline flowed through my veins, and I squirmed and fought the best I could with the man holding me a foot off the ground. I threw my head back and connected with something hard. The arm loosened, and I threw my fist back and hit the man right in the groin.
I was dropped to the ground, but before I could get up to run, there was a moment of pain, and then everything went black.
* * *
I woke to the taste of metal and the feeling that my head had been run over by a herd of Red Forest creatures. When what happened came to me in a rush, I sat up and looked around. I was sitting on a red rug in front of a trunk. The white cloth walls that surrounded me flowed with the breeze, and it registered that I was in a tent. There was a large bed in the corner and a wooden desk on the other side with two chairs sitting in front of it.
This wasn’t good at all. No, this was very bad. I was in a tent belonging to the Untouchables and my heartbeat quickened with fear of my imminent rape and death.
I held my aching head as I jumped to my feet and opened the trunk. My eyes lit up when I saw the assortment of weapons. I heard deep voices and tucked a knife into the back of my pants. I was standing uncertainly on the red rug in the middle of the tent when a few men entered. Two of them were decked out in the full Untouchable ensemble while the third one wore a white sleeveless shirt. He carried himself with authority and I instantly knew he was the one in charge.
He looked me up and down, and it made me feel as though I were some kind of war spoil. That made me bristle, and I perused him the same way. Instead of ending up more obedient from being with Weston, I ended up braver than I should have ever been. I had to remind myself that just because Weston didn’t physically abuse me, that didn’t mean this man wouldn’t.
His dark eyes gleamed with some amusement, but I ignored the nervousness his gaze made me feel as I looked him up and down from his short black hair to his handsome square-jawed face to his muscular build.
“Leave,” he told the men while still looking at me. The other two Untouchables left the tent. The man took a step toward me, and I took one back. His eyes sparkled as he said, “What is a woman doing traveling alone? I’ve heard there are bad men around these parts.”
I should have played the sweet lost girl, should have laid it on real thick. I knew I probably smelled wearing all the dirty clothes, but I also knew I was an attractive woman even under all the cloth.
Which was probably what had gotten me into most of these messes on the way here. I honestly resented it a little. I didn’t want it if it was going to land me in a coffin. At this point, I was already in one; the dirt had yet to be piled on top.
Maybe I could have come up with a plan if I had the desire to show my sweet side to an Untouchable. But I would rather pile the dirt on myself than that. And to be honest, these thoughts didn’t come to me until later. The biggest reason was, that sometimes I didn’t think before I spoke. Okay, always. My body tensed with irritation from being in a different man’s clutches that any rational thoughts flew out the tent flap.
“None of your business,” I said coolly. “I imagine you are going to rape me? Let’s get this over with, shall we?” And I will stab you before you can blink, I thought.
His laughter filled the tent. “Why do you think I’m going to rape you?”
Was he jesting? I let a half laugh go.
“Because I’ve almost been raped by . . .” I counted in my head. “Eleven of your men.”
He took a step towards me. I took one back. His sleeveless shirt left too much of his tanned skin bare, and I inwardly cringed. He watched me with interest. “Not my men. We don’t rape women.”
I scowled at his blatant lie. “I can assure you, I wasn’t seeing things. I can still feel the bruise on the back of my head.”
“Those weren’t my men. Some are raiders and have no affiliation with mine. I’m curious, though, how did you manage to get away?”
I crossed my arms. “Again, none of your business.”