Emrys stopped on a dime as he turned to acknowledge the newcomer. I whirled around to face the newest obstacle that for some reason had Emrys suddenly looking defeated. "You've got to be kidding," I thought, trying not to laugh. Nothing about the stranger screamed threatening. He was as short as a jockey, but built with a stature like a pit bull. His torso was muscled to the point of being ridiculous, sitting atop toothpick-thin legs. He literally looked like the weight of his upper body would snap his scrawny legs like twigs. His demeanor was that of a loan shark or some hustler you'd see in a movie. Long greasy hair was pulled back into a ponytail and small beady eyes completed the look of the lowlife. I tried to get a gauge on his origins, but like with Emrys, I came up blank, which led me to the conclusion that he was a Soul Trader also.
"Emrys," he said, in a greeting oozing condescension.
"Kale," Emrys acknowledged. "You don't need to be here."
"Really? I can name someone who would disagree," Kale replied as he approached me. "I can see your fascination. She is definitely a rare species," he said, making a move to reach out and touch my cheek.
"Don't you dare touch her," Emrys growled, leaping in front of me in a weird attempt to protect me. If the situation wasn't so wacky I would have laughed. It was obvious I could take out this small fry with my eyes closed and my hands tied behind my back.
"Touché," Kale smirked, looking beyond us to where Lynn and Robert were standing. Robert was blocking Lynn from view in a typical Protector stance. "You're keeping strange company, my friend."
"We're not friends, so it's none of your concern," Emrys stated in a low voice, laced with anger.
"I'm hurt," Kale said, clutching his chest like he'd just taken a dagger to it.
"You don't need to be here," Emrys repeated.
"You had your chance, my friend. The Dark One is done waiting for you to deliver. Of course, I can now see why you've delayed delivery. I would have sampled the product too before it was delivered," Kale replied as he appraised my body up and down.
"Shut up!" Emrys roared, looking apologetically my way.
"What is he talking about?" I asked, stepping out from behind his ridiculous attempt at protection to confront him. "Deliver what? Me? You made a deal to deliver me? And how exactly did you plan on doing that?" I laughed sarcastically, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
"Jordyn, it's not what it sounds like," Emrys pleaded with me.
"DID YOU MAKE A DEAL? IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION!" I yelled, shaking with hurt and rage.
"Yes, but that's before I knew…"
"Holy shit, did you really fall for this chick?" Kale interrupted, openly mockingly Emrys. "That is so perfect," he continued laughing.
"You bastard," I said, trying to control the rage that was pumping through me.
"I'm sorry," Emrys said quietly.
"As touching as this is, I've got business to handle. Come on, sugar, the Dark One is waiting," Kale said, surprising us all by reaching for my bare forearm. I attempted to jerk away, but his hold tightened. A burning sensation spread through me where he gripped my arm. Intense pain came out of nowhere. His touch felt like acid on my skin, burning its way down to the bone. I tried again to jerk away, but he held steadfast, slowly dragging me from the dining room with strength that rivaled my own. Digging my feet into the ground, I used my weight to halt our forward motion. Agonizing pain reared through me as he continued to tug on my arm. Shrieking in pain, I took a half-step toward him, hoping to relieve some of the pressure.
"Let go of her!" Lynn screamed behind me, although it sounded like she was far off. Everyone's actions appeared to be in slow motion as Emrys charged Kale only to be knocked on his ass with a single blow. Robert came in next, fast and quick like I'd shown him in training. He whipped around with a kick, but was thrown back when Kale jerked his foot out of thin air with his free hand. There was nothing I could do, but stare at the scene unfolding in front of me. What the hell was going on?
"RELEASE HER NOW," a voice I'd recognize anywhere thundered through the room.
"Figures you'd show up, Haniel, heavenly scum," Kale sneered, tightening his hold on my arm. My vision dimmed as darkness surrounded me. The pain of his grip ripped the air from my lungs, making it hard to breathe.
I felt a strong gust of wind and booming sound, almost like a bomb, before Kale miraculously released my arm.
Unfortunately, he didn't take any of the pain with him. Part of the skin on my arm where Kale had gripped me was missing, and what remained was a sickening blistered mess. My entire arm pulsated like poison was pumping through the bloody mess. I swayed slightly on my feet, feeling nauseous from the mangled state of my arm. Emrys reached out to steady me, but I jerked free from his touch. His words rang through my head as I resisted the urge to pass out. I would not be the victim.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Jordyn, are you okay?" Krista asked from what seemed like the end of a very long tunnel.
"When did you get here?" I asked in a garbled voice, keeping my eyes averted from the mess my arm had become.
"You're home. How do you feel?" she asked, gently rubbing my forehead. Finally able to focus, I took in her worried expression.
"How was this possible?" I asked, looking down at my mess of an arm. Her eyes darted from me toward the kitchen. "Don't give me that 'I can't say' bullshit," I added, forcing the issue.
"Let's wait for Haniel. He went to take care of the owners and the staff. It's going to be okay," she said, patting my good arm reassuringly.