Page 51 of Wicked Fate

She can ride me,Xander trotted over.

Ride you, aye?Gage laughed, sounding more like a choke.

Rolling her eyes, Briar hung her head.So not funny right now.

Xander stopped in front of Cassi and hunkered to the ground. Cassi tilted her head back.

“He wants you to climb on his back so we can move quicker,” Ryker explained.

Placing her satchel around her body, she obliged, and Xander stood with no problem despite the additional weight.

“Let’s go.” Bruce walked to Gage and Kendric.

Briar threw her arms around me, and I heard similar movements from Reid and Sun.

You better come back, Ember.Briar tightened her grip even more.

I returned the squeeze and pulled back so we were eye to eye.I will do everything possible.Knowing that if I didn’t leave now, it’d be harder, I spun on my heels and went toward the woods. Ryker appeared at my side, taking my hand as Sun flanked my other side.

We ran.

No one spoke, and no one stumbled. Our feet fell in perfect rhythm on the mossy earth, muffled by the thick undergrowth and damp morning dew.

The sun filtered weakly through the trees in ribbons of gold and pink, casting long shadows between the trunks. However, none of the shadows were the threatening kind.

But the woods themselves were silent—too silent.

No birds. No insects. Not even wind.

The kind of quiet that warned of blood ahead.

Still, we pressed forward.

Kendric led us with long, purposeful strides, his black wolf weaving expertly between the trees. Gage and Bruce flanked him, while Ryker, Sun, and I trailed close behind. Xander padded just ahead with Cassi, who gripped his thick fur tightly, scanning the woods.

The closer we got to our destination, the colder the air grew.

The trees thinned as we neared the rise where Kendric had said we’d find the prison entrance. A boulder the size of a small car was supposed to mark the trailhead, though it was concealed in vines and half-covered in moss.

But when we reached the top of the incline, we all stopped short.

Cold pressure slammed into me just as Kendric linked,The rock is gone.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

The cold pressure pulsed against my skin—sharp, familiar, and wrong. My breath hitched as I staggered forward a step, trying to fill my lungs once more.

Ryker placed his arm around my waist, anchoring me to him.What’s wrong?

“Why have we stopped?” Bruce frowned. “We don’t have time for lollygagging.”

If only that were the problem

“The rock is supposed to be here.” Ryker gestured with his free hand to the area. “But something is wrong with Ember.”

I inhaled, though it didn’t feel as if I should be able to with the pressure mounting over me.It’s a cloaking spell.There was no doubt in my mind. We were in the right space; they had just taken extra precautions.

“Maybe he’s confused.” Sun pursed her lips and closed her eyes in defeat. “We came all this way fornothing.”

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