Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The woodland thinned onto a road, and a run-down building came into view. It looked like a barn, and beyond it was a house.
A farm.
Shem brought us to a halt under cover of the trees while Tumiel and Sarq took to the air, soaring ahead of us to circle the building. They returned a few moments later.
“Clear from above,” Sarq and Tumiel reported in unison.
“Shem?” The other monster, whose name I didn’t know yet, crouched as if waiting for an order.
He was smaller than his companions, about as tall as Bastian, slender and lithe with a runner’s body.
His skin was more rose-colored than crimson, and his hands weren’t clawed, but I’d seen Sarq retract his talons so that didn’t tell me much.
His feet were almost normal with blunt, blackened nails.
He watched Shem expectantly with bright hazel eyes.
“Go, Zaqiel.”
Zaqiel shot off, moving so fast he was a blur.
He returned a minute later, chest heaving post-exertion. “Both buildings are clear.”
“We rest here till dawn,” Shem said.
Sarq ushered us across the road and through a broken gate onto the overgrown and unkept farmland. We followed his broad frame as he headed for the barn. I guess because with the fewest exits, it would be easiest to watch over us in there.
Someone stumbled behind us again and a stab of annoyance shot through me.
Irritation at being responsible for these people’s lives, for having to give up my freedom to save them.
But it was a momentary stab followed by a rush of guilt because how could I have thought such a thing?
I was a protector, a scout. I’d sworn to keep these people safe, and my father was among them too.
The barn doors loomed. Sarq and Tumiel pulled them open, and Shem vanished into the darkness.
We waited outside for several long moments before Sarq spoke.
“Inside. Now.” His tone was an urgent bark.
Murmurs rose behind me. Disconcertion, fear, and wariness. Being herded into an enclosed place by monsters probably didn’t inspire confidence in anyone, even if it was for our own safety.
I turned to my people. “It’s okay. It’s safe. Go in, come on.”
Bastian ushered our party forward and Javier led them inside, followed by Jamie still carrying my father. Sissy paused before going in, her eyes wide with fear.
“Rue, are you sure?”
It was the only thing I was sure of right now. “They don’t need a barn to kill us, Sissy.”
She nodded. “I suppose not.”
The people shuffled past me until everyone except Bastian and I were in the barn.
Shem strode back out. “Zaq, Tumiel, take first watch.”
“I’d like to help,” Bastian said. “I can take a watch.”
Shem snorted. “And die noisily enough to wake us when attacked?”
Bastian frowned. “You’re not the only ones able to kill them.” His hand went to his blade.
The corner of Shem’s mouth lifted. “Ah, yes, you’re one of the sacrificial gifted.”
“What?” Bastian looked confused.
“Also clueless of your sacrifice, so not exactly noble.”
My pulse quickened. He knew about the serum and what it did to the people who used it. How could he know that?
Bastian looked like he was about to question Shem further, but Zaqiel interrupted.
“Get inside,” he ordered.
Bastian’s jaw ticked but he took my hand and made to draw me past the monsters.
Shem’s hand whipped out to grab hold of my arm. “Not you. You stay with me.”
“No.” Bastian squared off against him, not caring that the monster was a head taller than him. Not caring that Shem dwarfed him and could probably crush him if he decided to. “Rue stays with me.”
My heart swelled with emotion at his boldness even as icy dread trickled through my veins, because antagonizing these creatures was a foolhardy move.
Shem’s eyes glowed, his lips pulling back from his fangs. “The terms of the deal are that I keep Rue’s party alive. They don’t have to be intact for that.”
I pulled my hand from Bastian’s grip. “I’m fine. Go.”
“Rue…” He looked torn.
“Please, Bastian. Our people need you.”
And I’d belong to Shem soon enough anyway. It was probably a good idea to get used to him. My stomach trembled at the thought, but I lifted my chin.
“I’ll be fine.”
Bastian’s throat bobbed. He gave me a curt nod before backing into the barn, but the conflict in his eyes tore at my soul.
Shem moved behind me and wrapped his thick, muscular arm around my shoulders, hauling me back against his chest. I sucked in a sharp breath at the contact, and the heat radiating from the hard, muscular planes of his body.
He throbbed against me, reminding me of what was in store for me once this journey was over.
I blinked against the hot tears that threatened to make me weak and summoned anger instead.
“I keep what’s mine safe,” he said. His hot, wet tongue blazed a trail up the side of my neck, sending a sensuous shiver through me that inflamed my anger.
“Get off me.” I bit out the words like chips of ice.
To my surprise he released me, and I turned to face him, rage tightening my throat and pushing at the backs of my eyes. “I’ve seen many monsters in my time. Monsters that tear and rip, but they’re nothing compared to you, a monster who delights in the prospect of violating its prey.”
His eyes flinched.
“I can’t stop you. I’m not strong enough, but I’ll die before I let you take my dignity. Because you, Shem, are the worst kind of monster.”
He moved so fast I barely had a chance to gasp before he had me by the throat and pinned to the barn wall, balanced on the tips of my toes.
He leaned in, his eyes blazing in fury. “I offered you a deal which you took freely. I did not coerce you or put you under duress. I offered a trade, which you accepted.”
“My body…” I bit out. “You think that’s a fair trade?”
“Your life to save the lives of many. I think I get the raw end of the deal, don’t you? All I get is an ungrateful, whiny human.”
I gripped his wrist for leverage, gasping out my next words with as much venom as I could muster. “You can’t justify what you plan to do to me. You can’t justify violating me.”
He snorted. “Violation? You have no idea what I could do to you.” His tone dropped to a sensual and seductive purr, and I was suddenly acutely aware of the caress of his warm breath as it fanned across my face, sweet and fragrant.
“The things I could make you feel…” My stomach flipped and confusion clouded my mind.
My body’s response didn’t make sense, didn’t align with the disgust in my mind.
“But you’ll have to beg for my touch before I give you release, little human.
Beg and plead.” He sneered, flashing his fangs.
“Shem…” Sarq placed his hand on Shem’s shoulder. “We could do with another perimeter check.”
Shem’s eyes narrowed and flicked toward Sarq, and for a moment I thought he’d snap at him, but then he sighed and relaxed his grip on me. Free of his hold, I fell onto the balls of my feet and slumped against the barn wall, hand going to my throat.
Shem’s gaze dropped to my hand. His eyes flinched, top lip twitching in a derisive expression before he spun and launched himself into the air.
“Did he hurt you?” Sarq asked softly.
His tone surprised me. He sounded almost concerned.
I looked up into his face, all broad planes. His nose and mouth were wide, his cheekbones flat and high, and his eyes slightly slanted. He could have been hewn from stone, but there was a gentleness in his eyes that was almost disarming.
“Did he?” he asked again.
I took a moment to consider his question, realizing that despite his firm grip, Shem hadn’t hurt much but my pride.
“I’m fine.”
He nodded curtly. “Good. He would not like it if he hurt you, even by accident. None of us would.” There was sincerity in his eyes, but my disbelief must have shown on my face, because he sighed almost wearily.
“Of course, you cannot simply take my word for that.” His mouth twisted wryly. “We are, after all, monsters.”
He walked away, leaving me with a strange emotion churning in my chest, one that felt a lot like shame.