Page 59 of Villainous Fate

“But we can’t just… leave them…” she whispers as another tear falls, and she swipes it away with the back of her hand.

“They will be brought out of the maze by the groups we’re trying to beat. Can you walk, or do you need to be carried?” I ask, trying and subsequently failing to keep my tone polite.

This is the final trial. I need to get through this so I’m one step closer to seeing Grace. As much as I feel for these poor women, I didn’t put them in this position. We can’t ruin our chances of winning to save their lives.

“I can’t. I can’t leave them,” she says again, shaking her head this time as if convincing herself as much as us.

Before I can push back, the sound of footsteps approaching from the far end of the clearing reaches my ears, and I snap to attention. At my movement, Finn turns slightly, and I see the moment he hears them, too.

Someone’s coming.

Everything just got infinitely more complicated. Normally, I would relish in letting my wolf have a chance to fight, but we can’t shift without costing Amira her life. If she hasn’t been exposed to our world, she has a chance at returning to her life when all of this is over.

Fuck.

Marcus is too absorbed in calming Amira to realize we have company, so I lift my hand, waving it at him and putting a single finger to my lips. His brows drop in confusion before I point in the direction of the team that is now advancing on us.

“I’m sorry, Amira,” he whispers, “We have to leave. Now.” His voice is low to ensure it doesn’t carry across the space, “I promise you that I will do everything in my power to get you all out of here safely, but you need to trust me.”

“We need to find cover,” I state, keeping my voice as low as possible before scanning the area to find our only option in some oversized bushes near the south entrance. Finn’s already moving before I can even finish my statement, his swift movements nearly inaudible as he tucks himself behind the closest shrub.

The footsteps grow louder, and the snapping of broken twigs reaches us. Out of time, I step closer to Amira, attempting to grab her arm so I can guide her to the edge of the clearing, but she pulls out of my reach, stands, and moves ahead of me toward the bushes.

Marcus turns back to grab his duffel, which sits on the platform step in clear view, and I send up a ‘thank you’ to The Fates that he remembered because it would have immediately given us away to whoever was about to arrive.

Amira slides her small frame behind the largest bush, and I join her, noting there isn’t enough time to get any farther, and knowing I need to keep her close.

She’s a wildcard.

Once his bag is back on, Marcus moves at a speed that shouldn’t be possible before he dives, gracefully rolling behind the last bit of vegetation large enough to cover him.

Seconds later, movement at the east opening pulls my gaze as Brad Sullivan, Conner Saint, and Veronica Kent enter the center and cautiously approach the platform.

Not. Fucking. Good.

Chapter 30

Marcus

TeamEastrollsin,looking a bit worse for the wear. Sullivan is missing a pant leg, and Kent has a visible gash healing on her cheek. None of them are talking to each other as they enter, and the tension between them is palpable.

Trouble in paradise?

My eyes slide over to where Amira and Deacon are huddled. I’m unsure what it is about her, but despite the fact that she appears to be at least a decade older than me, she reminds me of my little sister.

Proud. Stubborn. Strong. But so small…

Hearing her try to sort this whole thing out made me ashamed of our kind in a way I hadn’t felt before.

Fucking animals.

Permanently inking her skin for a game?

Not to mention trapping them for years for who knows what.

If I ever find out who is responsible for these things, I’ll kill them myself.

“Grab the clue,” Saint orders, his voice traveling to my ears, which pulls my attention back to the platform. Sullivan steps up to their human map and removes the card, not untying her blindfold, gag, or bindings.

---