Page 84 of Sworn to Revenge
The men don’t move. They stand there like statues, guns raised but still, their faces unreadable.
“What do you want?” I snarl, every nerve in my body screaming at me to dosomething—to attack, to run, to protect Bay.
Silence.
Tension coils tighter as my eyes flick to Alin. Her hand rests by her side, her body coiled like a predator ready to strike. Her calm unnerves me, but I trust her.
Just then Bay’s huntress screech splits the air. The sound pierces through me, wild and raw, and for a moment, I glimpse her power—a reminder that she doesn’t need my protection.
I steal a quick glance back,smirking—unable to hide the pride swelling in my chest—then turn my attention back to the men, but this time, my smile fades completely. They don’t even flinch. What’s going on?
“There’s no point, Bay. Look at the thing over their ears,” Alin says, sounding almost impressed as if she’s already scanned them in the last split second.
I narrow my eyes at their ears now, thankful once again for the sharp vision these powers give me. Bay stops her screech, confused. “What is that?” she asks, surprised too.
“It looks like… wax?” I furrow my brows, trying to make sense of theclear jelly-like substance covering their ears.
“They can’t hear us at all? So, what the hell are they waiting for?” Bay steps forward to stand beside me, looking at me for answers. I wish I had it.
“How many can you take down at once with your powers?” I glance at Alin, still trying not to make any sudden moves. It’s like they’re waiting for something or someone, boxing us in.
“All of them,” she replies, eyes still locked on the men like a predator backed into a corner, ready to strike. “But I’m trying to figure out why they’re not doing anything. This is too strange—I don’t want to expose my powers until we know what’s going on. Someone could be watching us.” Her gaze stays sharp, calculating every move.
“I don’t recognize them,” I tell her, “but I can only guess this is connected to the French and Russian men we took care of. They also knew where to find Will and Volva.”
She nods in understanding, her eyes fixed on the enemy. You can never underestimate her—she’s truly a force no one wants to cross.
I try to focus on the currents of electricity running through my body, managing to block out the throbbing pain in my back as I fight to generate my own electric currents. It’s way harder than controlling the ones that come when I’m caught off guard.
“It burns! Stop!” Bay’s scream pierces my ears, and she collapses to her knees in the sand. Four of the men ahead of us instantly track her with their guns. Now, the electric currents reach my hand, with tension and rage taking their place.“Are you going to take any longer?” I snap at Alin, growing impatient, trying to figure out if they’ll open fire once I bend down tohelp Bay.
“Pedro, don’t throw off my concentration! We can’t just kill them without knowing what’s going on,” she scolds me. “Stop your powers! Now! You don’t know who’s watching!”
“Fine, cover me.” I order, quickly crouching down next to Bay, not waiting for her response. I’m trusting Alin more than I ever thought I would.
“Bay, are you okay? Can you hear me?” I ask as she grips her hair in her hands, pulling at it in pain. She’s fighting that damn dragon again. I’ll kill him. I’ll do whatever it takes to break this curse on her!
I grit my teeth, swallowing the curses burning on my tongue as tears stream down her cheeks. The dragon mark on her chest glows bright purple under my shirt, casting a blinding light all around us. My powers keep raging inside of me, but I must follow Alin’s plan.
Bay
The dragon’s deep growl vibrates through every part of my body, the searing pain in my chest making it hard to breathe. Tears burn my eyes.Stop it. Please. It’s burning.I find myself begging the dragon, who’s chosen the worst possible time to torment me.Please!
Your pathetic family isn’t doing a thing to protect us!His words lash at my chest—literally.
Alin is always calculated; she won’t let them leave here alive. Just stop!I scream inside my head, the touch of Pedro’s hand reminding me he’s here, but I can’t even open my eyes to grasp what’s happening in front of us.
Alin won’t get you out of here before they kill you all!His roar grows louder.
“What are you talking about?” I ask aloud, trying to drown out the thunderous voice in my head.Get out of my body already!
There are more humans hiding behind those rocks, heavily armed. If I donothing, I’ll die in this weak body of yours!
What?My breath hitches in shock.How do you know?
Save your questions for later and stop fighting me. Let me handle this.
“There are more humans behind the rocks. They’re armed,” I finally manage to open my eyes, gasping for breath between the burning pain, informing Alin and Pedro of what the dragon just told me.
