Page 93 of Taking Jenny
Pleon whined, “But what if there are more traps that way?”
“Then you will find a new life on Halla,” Justice said sharply.
The hunters split up, and with the subpar squad starting in our direction, I ran as hard and quietly as I could, but was not as worried as I would have been had Justice’s group been heading our way.
Surge whispered, “We need to split up, too.”
“What? Why?”
“If we’re going to thwart both groups, then we can’t be together, right?”
“Surge, you can’t go off on your own out here.” I had to slow down to be able to breathe gently enough to whisper. “There are all kinds of beasts out here, literal and political.”
“I can handle myself, Mal,” Surge insisted. “This is the only way we can protect Jenny. Especially since these cowardly shits cheated. She has no idea they started the trial early.”
I hated that he was right. “And what if Pleon and his crew catch you? What will you do?”
He chuckled darkly. “I’ll kill them. After I have some fun, of course.”
I was reluctant to let him go off on his own. “I admire your confidence, Surge, but—”
“Let me off your back, Mal,” he insisted. “You’ll move faster without me anyway.”
We were far enough ahead of both groups to make the switch safely. Still, I hesitated. I knelt down to let him slide off, carefulnot to jostle him. Then, I pointed at him and warned, “If you die on me, I’m coming to Halla to kick your ghost ass.”
He grinned. “Same here. Keep in mind the only weapons they have are staffs and leather bags, so you can’t use anything else but sticks and whatever is out here on the mountain to kill them, if it comes to that. It has to look like Jenny did it.”
I nodded in understanding. “I know. You too. No deaths by magic.”
Surge saluted me, then turned toward the trees.
I resumed my sprint to find Jenny, and as I ran, I prayed, something I hadn’t done since I was a young boy.
Gods, let me see him again. Let me see all of them again.
CHAPTER 28
Jenny
My body held still, taut with fear. A bead of sweat slid down my spine, but I didn’t dare move. Not with those eyes on me.
I’d heard footsteps in the forest. Casual at first, unhurried. Then they stopped. A few heartbeats later they resumed, quieter. Trying to sneak up on me.
I crouched down, pretending to tie my boot. My staff was on the ground in front of me. Every muscle in my body was ready to strike. I had to let them get close since I’d only get one shot at this.
My right ear perked as they began to circle me in that direction. Two heartbeats and I would grab my staff and smash it into their face.One, two—
I grabbed my staff and thrust it blindly at my enemy. Not a Ladrian. A bird. The gray creature startled and darted off in a flash, faster than I could swing.
My legs wobbled as adrenaline leaked out of me. Relief hit me so hard I nearly dropped the staff. Thank the stars I’d missed. I would have hated myself for killing a forest creature. Even a bird as large and strange looking as that one. It looked as though it didn’t have eyes, but I had seen it for less than a few seconds, so I wasn’t sure.
I exhaled, letting the tension seep from my muscles.
“There you are.”
I jumped at the sound of another voice. My staff swung reflexively and struck another stick—his. The force of the hit jolted up my arms, and there he was, that asshole from the ball. Pleon, grinning like a cartoon villain.
“I bet you wish Craven would have let me hit you last night,” he sneered. “I’ll have to thank him for stopping me so I could have this opportunity to kill you.”
