Page 7 of Desire

“I will be. Go to the garden after you leave. The rest will be waiting.”

I nodded and opened the door. Darian and Edmund lingered by the fire. They waved farewell indifferently as I left the cottage and went back to cleaning up breakfast. I knew it was an act for those watching, so I returned their half-hearted parting wave and went to join the others by the garden.

When they saw my approach, they started for the cave opening. Daemon lingered to accompany me.

Ahead, the others disappeared one after another into the cave. When we neared, Daemon gestured to the darkness that had swallowed Garron.

“In you go, Lamb,” he said.

Without hesitating, I stepped inside. Garron’s large hand wrapped around mine. He led me several paces forward then stopped to whisper in my ear.

“Sound carries in here. Stay where you are.”

One of them took my other hand and brought it to his mouth to lightly nibble my fingertips. I tugged my hand free.

“Dolt,” I whispered. “No glow.”

I heard someone cuff the offender and shook my head at them. In the following silence, a faint shout rose outside.

“Wait for us to return,” Brandle whispered.

Then they were gone.

Alone, I listened to the yelling escalate. I heard Edmund’s rage-filled roar. Brandle called out. Thumps and cursing rang from the clearing. My feet inched toward the opening.

A tingle of warning whispered that it wasn’t safe to leave. However, a moment later, it warned that it wasn’t safe to stay either.

“Kellen Cartwright! It’s time to return home!”

A shadow filled the opening. Tall. Not one of mine.

“Come out, poppet, and I promise to go easy on you,” the man crooned with a laugh.

Edmund’s voice filled my head as I stepped forward so the man could see me.

Men see you as small and weak. Use it to your advantage. Hit hard and fast; then run. Show them you’re more trouble than they know.

“There you are, poppet,” the man said.

He grabbed my left arm. I thrust the heel of my right hand up into his nose. He cursed and jerked my arm, roughly lifting me, bringing me close enough to swing my free hand into his throat. He made a choked sound and dropped me. I thrust my knee up between his legs, and he toppled like a felled tree.

Jumping over his prone body, I bolted out of the cave. Near the garden, I paused long enough to grab the hoe.

“Bitch!”

The word echoed loudly from behind me, spurring me to run.

With my weapon in hand, I raced around the corner of the cottage and straight into the fray. All the times I’d held back when tormented by the boys in town came rushing forward. Edmund’s rage became my own as I swung the hoe hard and hit the back of the man beating Garron. The man cried out. So did I when I realized the metal end was stuck in him.

Garron pushed him down and thrust me into the cottage. The door slammed shut, but not before I’d glimpsed another man rising behind Garron.

Breathing heavily, I stared at the planks.

The brothers weren’t safe out there. Yet, I wasn’t safe in here either. I needed to run. Hide.

The beat of my heart echoed my urgency.

Think, Kellen. Think.

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