Page 82 of Coerced

Looking at my troops, I frowned. John lay on the ground next to Rome, breathing lightly, his face gray and a white t-shirt wrapped around his head. Gigi was pale as chalk and sat staring at the spot where the portal had opened. Travis looked like he still had some miles left on him, but his eyes showed how rattled he was.

“I don’t think we’re far from a town.” I hoped I at leastsoundedconfident. I reached for my secondary bag, the one for snacks. “You two stay here with Rome and John. I’ll hike ahead a bit and see what I can see.”

“What if they come back?” Travis looked scared. “Rome’s out of it, and neither John nor Gigi could teleport themselves right now, let alone another person. How about I go instead? You can protect the others the best.”

I thought about it as I handed out peanut butter crackers. It sounded like a good plan, so I nodded.

“I want you back here long before it gets dark, Travis. Maddy had us heading north. Walk in a straight line as best you can, but follow a road if you find one. Every so often, mark your trail with piles of rocks or something so you can find your way back.”

“I can just use the friend tracker app to find you.” He patted his jeans pocket where I saw the outline of his phone.

“Use it now!” Gigi jumped up suddenly, clawing at her own pocket. “We can find Jax and the others with it!”

“I already tried.” Travis rolled his shoulders. “I tried all their phones. They’re either turned off or have dead batteries or were taken away. Could have been destroyed.”

“I’m going to keep trying.” She plopped back down and clenched her phone so hard, her knuckles turned white.

Travis and I shared a sidelong glance. We both knew she wouldn’t have any luck. I shrugged, then reached over and draped a canteen around his neck.

“If you meet up with people, explain you’re hiking and got lost and wanna know where you ended up. They’re probably used to hikers if this trail is as famous as Rome said. Can you hotwire a car?” The look he gave me was all the answer I needed. “Just thought I’d ask. You’re smart, so I know you’ll be okay, but watch your back anyway, Dragon.”

“Same, Kerry.”

#

Soon after Travis left, Gigi nodded off. I eased her onto her side next to the others, sliding her pack under her head for a pillow. There wasn’t much else I could do, so I waited. Every once in a while, I scanned the horizon and fought off a yawn. It was exhausting to guard the wounded in unknown territory.

It was also lonely.

I found that even more disturbing than the strain of standing watch. There were times when I’d gone weeks without talking to anyone. Now, Gemma had buried herself so deeply inside me, I didn’t remember how to be alone anymore.

At the thought, my heart flew into a dozen fragments and my hands were full of blue flames before I knew it.

Not yet. Not here.Taking a deep breath, I pulled the power back into my core.That’s right. Lock it down. Lock it down tight.

I’d had a lot of practice with that over the past six months. Of course, I hadn’t had this level of rage to deal with in a long time, but I had strategies now and felt I could handle it better than I would have in September.

But the guilt was a new torture. The last words I’d spoken to her had been ugly ones.

If she dies, I’ll lose every part of myself that matters. If those cruel words are the last she ever hears from me, I might as well slit my wrists now and join the demons in Hell like I shoulda done months ago.

Even worse than the rage, than the guilt, was the fear. It all but crippled me.

What would they do to her? Where would they take her? She was scared of the dark. What if they put her where she couldn’t find the light? What if they separated her from the others? She would be frightened and upset. She would cry and no one would be there to hold her.

She was amazingly strong and brave and powerful in her own way, but she was at the mercy of men with evil hearts. Men who commanded demons. Men who would hurt her for no other reason than they could.

Dear God, I tried to pray,I hope you’re listening, even though it’s someone tainted and damned who’s asking. If it helps, this isn’t about me. It’s abouther. Please, please, keep her safe from harm. Please, please, don’t let them put her in the dark. I know you have no love for me, but she’s too good and kind and sweet to suffer at the hands of evil men or their demons. Help me rescue her. Not for my sake, but hers. For my angel.

My mind went back to the night we’d met. I’d been an animal, filthy and savage, yet she’d tried to heal me. I woulda killed her if the wardens hadn’t arrived in time, but, only a week later, she’d raced down to the cottage to save my life.

Then, day after day, she came to my prison and sang for me. She chased away Argaud and his friends when they attacked me. For the last six months, she ignored my bad temper and went right on dulling the broken edges and calming the tiger and teaching me how to be a man - agoodman - because she believed I was worth saving.

I only wished I was.

I owe her so much. The least I can do is rescue her, then get out of her life. That way, she can find someone she trusts and is proud of. Someone without taint on his soul or blood on his hands. At least, that’s the kind of man she deserves.

As for me, I knew I deserved nothing, and I was good with that. If it meant she was happy, I was good with being left hollow and empty-handed in the end.

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