Page 14 of Ruthless Scoundrel
“I want to find fresh water, and something for us to eat,” he adds.
“Fine. Go do that,” I say bitterly.
“You’re not staying on the beach. I might come back to find you’ve drowned yourself.”
My head snaps around and I glare at him. “I don’t want to die.”
He shrugs. “Didn’t look that way as you held a spike to your own throat.”
That’s right, he’s a giant octopus. I have no ideawhathe is. I have no idea who sent him to capture me. I don’t fucking know anything.
“I’m not going anywhere with amonster,” I sneer at him and turn back to the sea.
The mechanicalclickand metal jingle of his cuff coming off spurs me into action. I explode to my feet and run. The sand makes it harder to move, and my body is tired from days of malnourishment and dehydration, but I don’t stop. I run for the swaying palm trees, hoping I can escape him farther inland and hide.
He’s right behind me, running much faster. I turn, swinging the other end of the copper manacle at him like a morning star. The metal claps against his cheek and he hits the sand with a pained “Fuck!”
I spin on my toes and charge into the trees. Splinters of bark and other sharp things cut the bottoms of my feet, but I don’t stop running. I can’t stop. Even if I’m trapped here, I won’t be a captive. I won’t let someone else control my fate. Not again.
Heavy panting and even heavier footfalls turn my head. I’m not prepared for the sight behind me. A massive black shadow on four legs with glowing opal eyes is barreling toward me. My foot catches on something and I slam to the ground. My head bounces painfully and my vision swims.
I can’t stop.
I crawl forward, reaching for a thick fallen branch. I roll over with my weapon and hold it out at the creature—but there is no creature. It’s Jasper.
He bats the branch away and steps over me, then sits on my stomach. The air whooshes from my lungs in a pathetic groan. He grabs my wrist and slaps the other manacle closed around it, glaring down at me the whole time.
“I can appreciate how resilient you are, princess. Relentless, and ruthless. I’m sure there are more R words I could apply to you, but the next one I want you to take to heart.” He jerks me upward, putting our faces inches apart. “I’ve beenrespectfulfor a captor, but I don’t have to be. This could be much,muchworse for you.”
Fear shivers through me for the first time. This man is not the same one I’ve been talking to. This is a desperate man, an angry man. He mustn’t be with the rebellion. He would’ve told me by now. He would’ve assured me I’m safe and they’re taking me for training if he was with them.
My lip trembles as I realize I truly have no idea who he is, or what he wants. “Why have you taken me?”
His jaw flexes. “I need you.”
“Why?” My voice is barely a whisper, distant in my ears as my eyes blur with tears.
He swallows hard, then pulls me upright. “Money, of course.”
He keeps one hand on my shackles as he drags me deeper into the island. My vision spins and I stumble behind him. I can’t get my footing and drop to my knees. It’s getting darker. Are there clouds?
I glance up in confusion. It’s black up there. Black like my mother’s vile magic.
She’s coming for me again, and I’m too weak to fight her.
A strangled whimper slips from my lips.Jasper’s face hovers over me, a look of concern pinching his brow. His mouth moves, but I don’t hear anything.
Then I’m floating off the ground. I’m in Jasper’s arms, and I want to fight, but my body is so tired. Revulsion rolls through me at my weakness, at my willingness to be carried by this monster.
My head hits his shoulder, and I lose awareness of the world. “I hate you.”
Chapter five
Jasper
Was I expecting us to be friends after fighting the horrifying cloud monster together? No. Was I hoping she wouldn’t immediately try to kill me? Yes…though, I’m not sure why. I just thought that the one moment of cooperation could continue, that maybe she wouldn’t fight me or ask questions and—
Yeah, that’s fucking stupid.
