Page 19 of Shifters' Fae Captive (Stolen by Shadow Beasts 1)

My gaze moves to the Blood Stone Necklace that’s been around my neck every day since he gave it to me. It’s dark red, a deep scarlet color like nothing else on earth, save maybe blood itself. And the colors swirl together in a memorizing way.

It’s priceless. Quite literally. If someone tried to sell it, they’d be offered any number under the sun and have to take the highest offer, even knowing it was worth more. The stones are rare, and only found around Rayne’s lands. And he’d given this to me.

Because we were always going to be together. We were mates. For life.

Tears sting my eyes. These men claim I’m their mate. I feel a connection to them, but not the same way I did with Rayne. With him, there was no question. With these men, all I have are questions, and one of them seems to be whether they plan to get rid of me or not.

Now, I really want to go home.

Pulling my hand away from the giant man, his hand has already dropped back to his side. On his shoulder, blood has stained his skin. But underneath that, his wound is gone.

Any other time, I’d be dancing around hooting and hollering that I was actually able to heal someone. But I don’t feel any joy at the realization, just a mind-numbing sadness for all I lost, and all I can never forget.

I move back to my own side of the cave and sit.There has to be a way out of here. I have to get back to my real life.Away from these men…

He stands and moves to the cave entrance and walks out. I frown.He’s not going to guard me? Are the others staying close to ensure I don’t run?

Or is now my chance?

I creep to the doorway and look both ways. None of the guys are there. In fact, everything is almost painfully silent.

If I’m going to go, it’s now or never.

I scan the woods one more time, take a deep breath, and run like I’m the anchor in the last leg of the Olympic relay. The air whips around me, and I run and run until I’m sure I can’t see the cave any longer, then keep going as fast as I can.

The forest around me feels dark and creepy. This far away from the cave, there’s no light from the fire. There’s only the moonlight and stars. My mind keeps flashing back to the shadow beasts and the creatures they fight. None of it makes sense. And as much as I want to believe the beasts are the good guys, I’m not really sure.

I don’t even know how long I would have been safe with them. Or if when they said to get rid of me, they meant to let me go back home, or if I was going to end up on the end of one of their swords. It’s true fae would never kill their mates, but I don’t even know if I believe these guys about the mate-bond. For all I know, it’s all just a lie.

So why does it feel like I’m running from safety into danger?

Out of breath, and with my legs burning, I stop to lean against a tree. I have a cramp in my side, a rock in my shoe, and not enough breath to pant, but I’m not going back. I’m going home.Period.

But as I catch my breath, the birds and night creatures go silent around me. Every hair on my body stands on end, and I slowly look around, even though I already know I’m not alone. My gaze connects with two silver eyes in a hulking shadowy creature. And then, I spot another pair of silver eyes near the first.

Fuck.

Okay, so I’m going home. No matter what... As soon as I figure out a way around the hideous and terrifying trolls who’ve come to stare at me.

I inch away from the scary creatures and glance at my escape. A second later, Onyx is there, breathing so hard his entire chest rises and falls like he’s run a marathon. And the look in his eyes? Even beneath the moonlight it’s scary as hell.

Even if I’m not sure whether his anger is directed at me or the creatures in front of me.

So, I guess I’m going home. After I escape the trolls,andthe ponytailed-blond man who is still bare-chested and behind me now.

I might not have thought this through...

I fade left, dodge right and try to weave around the pair of ugly trolls blocking my path, but not only are they the most unfortunate looking creatures, they’re sturdyandwide. My fades and dodges are no match for the bulk of these critters. No matter which way I go, they seem to be in front of me again.

One grabs for me and I duck under his arms and around him. He doesn’t come after me though, even though I hear growls of rage and anger. Which means I should keep going, right?

So why do my steps slow and I feel like I have to go back?

When I turn to glance behind me, the trolls are both attacking the shadow beast, and Onyx is fighting from the ground.Probably not because he finds it easier.His sword gets knocked from his hands, and goes flying out of his reach, but he’s quick to recover, grabbing a dagger from his belt. He thrusts it into one of the trolls and wraps both hands around the handle then twists, and the squishing sound makes my stomach turn.

Okay, he’s got this. So just go.

I blow out a few quick breaths, trying to convince myself to see this as an opportunity to escape. But one of the trolls takes a log, I never even saw him pick up, and swings at the shadow beast. Onyx drops his dagger and catches the log, but it still crashes down on him.

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