“And why would anyone want to keep helping someone who has been caught?”

“I was awaiting certain death, so I had nothing to lose. What was freedom for simply going after a girl?” His cold eyes ran over Leila’s body. She felt violated and frozen.

“I was never told what a fine piece-of-ass she was though.”

There was a snap and then Drystan was motionless, slumped against the tree.

Rehn has kicked him in the jaw hard enough to break his neck. Leila had barely registered what had happened by the time it was over.

She looked up and met Rehn’s eyes. They held each other for a moment before he finally looked away to walk past her.

“He was going to die anyway.”

“I know” was all she replied.

Had Rehn killed Drystan because of what he said about her?

Then, she thought about what else Drystan had given away.

“Wait, he was sent after me?”

“It sounds that way.” Rehn turned back and looked at her as if trying to figure out a riddle. “Do you have any idea why?”

Leila shook her head.

“This is a lot.”

“Yeah, no shit,” Rehn mumbled, sounding just as dumbfounded as her.

Leila was still in shock that someone was targeting her.

Why?

Her breathing started to come fast as she racked her brain for answers and what Drystan wanted from her.

“Hey, are you okay?” she heard Rehn ask.

Everything was starting to become blurry.

“Hey, just lie down. Take a breath.”

She felt Rehn guide her onto the grass as she attempted to steady her breathing.

“I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“That doesn’t help me figure out how to get us home!” she snapped. She was growing irritated at not having answers to anything.

Rehn’s voice remained calm.

“You will. Just relax and focus. Nothing can harm you now. We’ll find the answers together. I promise.”

When Rehn put a steady hand on her shoulder to comfort her, she felt a surge of the same power again. Just as intense as it had been in her office.

Leila wasn’t sure when she’d get that feeling again, so she honed in on it and felt it boil in her chest. She grabbed onto Rehn’s arm as the purple light surrounded them in a sudden blast.

When she opened her eyes, they were back in her office.

Even Drystan’s lifeless body had come back.