Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Briar
My jaw clenched as the three other shifters eyed me with hatred and curiosity. They were all expecting me to break some curse I didn’t know about, but I didn’t bother to tell them that. If Seth didn’t believe me, then they wouldn’t either.
Free of the harem and my mother, for now, I had no idea what would become of me once I went through my Needing, but that wasn’t my biggest problem. No, my biggest problem was that all four of them saw me as the enemy, and I had no idea how far they’d go to prove that to me.
I’d gone from being my mother’s prisoner to theirs and all because they expected me to do something I couldn’t. Even if I knew what the curse was, I couldn’t break it. I hadn’t fully come into my powers yet, and I didn’t know if I would now that my Needing would occur outside the harem.
“We’re going to make her,” Seth said. “Or at least she’s going to give us answers as to how to do it.”
When he shot me a pointed look, I gave a haughty sniff. I couldn’t give answers I didn’t have, but I wasn’t going to bother wasting my time telling him that.
I had nothing more to say. Seth didn’t believe me, and I didn’t care about these other shifters. The only one whose opinion mattered to me thought I’d betrayed him, and I couldn’t change that unless I discovered how my mother learned of our plans.
“What’s with the elf?” the female shifter inquired.
“This young caster insisted on freeing me,” Devnair replied.
Despite their obvious antipathy toward me, the shifters’ eyebrows rose. “What game is she playing?” the dark-skinned shifter asked.
Devnair shrugged. “I don’t believe she is playing a game.”
“They’re always playing a game,” the female stated. “All they know is how to fuck others and destroy lives.”
I winced at the anguish in her voice. This woman had been through hell; they all had, and all because of my kind. I’d be lucky if they didn’t do to me exactly what was done to them. At one time, Seth never would have allowed such a thing, but now he might sit back and watch as others tortured me.
I shifted uncomfortably as apprehension crept in to replace my shock over everything that had happened in such a short amount of time.
Things had been awful in Nightshade; they could be a thousand times worse now, and just like in Nightshade, I had no idea how to escape this. I was outnumbered and outpowered.
“Before today, I completely agreed with you.” Devnair’s brow furrowed as his gaze ran over me. “I don’t with her. You fought for my freedom in there; if you’d like, you can come with me to Terra.”
My mouth parted as hope sprang forth. I’d found Seth again and didn’t want to part with him, but I also couldn’t be imprisoned and abused for any more of my life.
“That’s not going to happen,” Seth growled. “I came for her, and she’s coming with us. Push me on this and I’ll leave your carcass here for the casters to find.”
Devnair’s lips clamped together, and anger flashed through his eyes.
Elves possessed powerful magic, and he didn’t like Seth’s threat, but he was up against three shifters and Seth, who’d managed to do the impossible by changing into something that could break free of the harem.
Devnair didn’t stand a chance against them.
“It’s okay,” I said in the hopes of staving off further argument. “I want to go with him.”
And that was the simple truth of it. Seth and these other three terrified me, yet I couldn’t part from him so soon after finding him again. It was probably stupid of me, but I still held out hope I’d somehow fix this and we could have the happy ending we’d dreamed about.
You’re going to end up with a broken heart or dead. Neither of those were good, but walking away wasn’t an option at all.
“Well then,” Devnair said, “it’s time for me to return to Terra. It’s been years since I’ve seen my home and family.”
“When you get there, keep her secret. The casters will soon learn I have Marina’s daughter, but I’d like some time with her before that happens,” Seth said.
I gulped. At one time, some time with Seth meant a whole lot of fun and pleasure. Now, it sent a shiver of unease through me.
“I’ll keep her, and you, a secret. It’s the least I can do for you, breaking those vines, but if you require my help in the future, I will be of assistance.”
“Thank you.”
Devnair turned to me next. “An elf always repays their debts, even to a caster. If you need anything, come to Terra and ask for me. I won’t tell them who you are until after your mother learns of this, but I’ll make sure they know to bring you to me.”
“Thank you, but I’m not sure I’ll be a caster now that I’m not in the harem,” I said.
“I’m not sure you were a caster before you went into the harem.”
My eyebrows rose at this, and Seth issued a disgusted snort.
“Good luck to you all,” Devnair said. “I’m almost sorry I’m going to miss how this plays out. I think it’s going to be very interesting.”
He gave a little wave of his hand and walked off in the direction of Terra. He’d have to cross through day caster land to get there, but not much of it. Hopefully, he’d get home safely.
When Devnair disappeared, I turned to the four shifters gathered around me. I refused to be the one to speak first.
“It’s time to go,” Seth said.
He stepped on the leg of the sorcerer he still held and jerked up with his hand. The man’s head tore free with a sickening, wet, crunching sound that made my stomach somersault.
When Seth retracted his claws, the head landed with a thud. When the face rolled toward me, I recognized the man he’d killed but didn’t know his name. I’d seen him in the village a few times; I felt no sympathy for him.
Seth turned to me and held up the vine he’d taken from the harem. “Are you going to be good, or do I have to bind your wrists?”
I inwardly seethed at the fact he was talking to me like a child, but fighting him wouldn’t get me anywhere, and I couldn’t touch that awful vine again. “I don’t need the vine.”
“If you change your mind, I have no problem using it.”
“That’s good to know.”
Since there were only four horses, I turned and started walking toward the woods. I wouldn’t degrade myself by asking for a horse, but Seth grasped my arm, halting me.
“You’ll ride with me,” he stated.
My heart leapt with excitement and dread at the idea. “I’d prefer to walk.”
His mouth twisted into a cruel mockery of a smile. “Then you most certainly shall ride.”
Before I could respond, he grasped my waist and plucked me off the ground. He’d been strong as a young man, but I marveled at how effortless lifting me was for him.
When he plopped me on the saddle, I almost toppled over when the side of my dress bunched around my legs, tugging awkwardly at me. I managed to grasp the pommel in time to stop myself from sliding off and faceplanting onto the ground.
With jerking motions, I tugged at the dress, pulling it down to my shins, though it remained bunched around my thighs. It would have to do as, without using a stirrup, Seth grabbed the horse’s mane and swung himself onto its back.
The horse didn’t so much as flick an ear at the extra weight when Seth settled himself on the seat behind me. His heat enveloped me as his familiar scent filled my nose. Despite everything that happened with him today, I closed my eyes and imagined melting into him.
At one time, he’d made me feel so safe that I would have curled up in his arms and gone to sleep as he guided us on our journey. He might shove me from the saddle if I tried such a thing today.
Instead of giving in to my longing to feel his powerful arms locked around me again, I remained rigid as one of his arms came forward. He gripped the reins with it while his other hand settled on his thigh, and he kicked the horse.
The large stallion plodded into the forest. Shadows encompassed us as the thick branches overhead blocked out the sun. My flimsy, awful dress was little protection against the increased chill the shadows brought with them.
Seth’s heat radiating against my back was at least something, but it didn’t stop goose bumps from forming on my arms and my nipples from hardening. I crossed my arms over my chest to hide where they stood out against my dress.
“How long do we have before your mother notices you’re missing and comes looking for you?” Seth inquired.
“At most, ten days, before they start questioning where I am. If they believe I went to the day caster side, they’ll send a messenger to learn for sure.
It will take another day or two for a response.
When it’s revealed I’m not there, they’ll return to the harem, and since you’re the only one who’s ever broken free, they’ll most likely assume I’m with you.
After that, I’m not sure what they’ll do.
Most likely, they’ll come looking for me here. ”
“The elf is also missing,” the female shifter said.
“My mother may assume I left with the elf, but I doubt it. I can’t know for sure.”
“She’ll know I have you,” Seth said. “And I’ll be ready for them when they come.”