Page 20 of First Ritual

Oh. My brow cleared. The guy was in total shock.

I took his hands. “It’s okay to be afraid. Let’s get you some place safe.”

Then I’d find someone capable of helping.

His brows drew together. “What?”

“You’re in shock. You’ll be okay, promise.” I’d ditch him in the nearest room.

Wild freed his hand only to slide his palms up my forearms to grip my elbows. He peered down at me. Or the cut on my face more importantly. What was his deal with it? “No one told you about caves.”

Did he mean the caves?

Boom.

The guys were getting closer! “Look, Wild. I gotta get help. So let’s get you sitting down.”

His grip tightened. Not enough for me to miss the slight shake in them. He was really upset. “You don’t need to get help, Tempest. This is normal.”

“It’s Bronte,” I said, then, “Wait. What did you say?”

A slow anger permeated through him, and I could only fathom that he was furious that I’d been cut. What the hell was wrong with this guy? I shivered at the drowning intensity in his gaze, and pushed his hands off, stepping closer to the danger behind me instead of the one before me.

“It’s Thursday,” he forced out, appearing to physically tear himself back from me with a single, staggered step.

Thursday. That’s what May had said.

My focus flew to Wild’s. May also mentioned caves. These booms had to be audible—and tangible—throughout the entire cave, yet no one had come running.

I held Wild’s focus as my brain turned the puzzle over. “What the fuck is going on?”

Wild’s hands fisted. “Of course they didn’t tell you.”

My heartbeat ramped up as my instincts waved huge Danger signs. What I couldn’t tell is if I felt more scared by the men trying to kill each other or Wild’s freaky behavior. He was acting like a caged animal—like a predator about to attack.

And I was the prey.

If he chose to attack this prey, he’d sorely regret it.

I exhaled, feeling the simplicity of my plan to find my tether person expire. “What didn’t they tell me?”

7

Wild whirled. “Follow me.”

My gaze narrowed at the order as more dust streamed from the tunnel ceiling. The booms were slowing down, and the battling magus had to be close to tapping out their magical reserves. To fight that hard… that’s how hard you fought when the situation was kill or be killed.

Then for Wild to have such a nonreaction.

For no one to come running.

Something was afoot. Something big. This couldn’t just be the new coven leader thing, which meant—in plain words—I’d been duped.

I watched Wild’s back as he stalked off, then sighed. “You’re lucky I’m a curious cat because that was really rude.”

He didn’t answer.

Another rattling rumble from behind sent me scurrying after him, and I caught up as he turned down a smaller tunnel toward some esteemed quarters.

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