Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“We need to rest and form a plan,” Jayce said from behind them, his breathing labored, but his expression still hard.
“We need to keep running,” Tolcan said without emotion, and with focus in his voice.
“I know a place we can hide out for the time being.” Jayce turned off to the side, and it seemed Tolcan wasn’t going to follow, but then he turned and made his way through the underbrush of the forest. Ten minutes later they were moving deep within a cave, one Greta knew from the past because they’d hidden here, trying to stay in the dark from the Rogues.
Once they were in the cave, Tolcan set her down, but as soon as she winced, as her feet were torn up and sore from running without shoes on, he immediately had her cradled in his arms. He leaned down, inhaled deeply from her hair, and then kissed the top of her head.
“What the hell are we going to do now?” Jayce asked, gripping the weapon so tight his knuckles turned white.
“We run and hide,” Tolcan said. “Until we can make a plan, maybe find Rogues and humans that might be willing to fight beside us, we are at the mercy of time.”
“Fuck,” Jayce said, and started pacing. “I’m tired of running.”
“Then by all means, go back out there and fucking fight the Rogues, but I won’t put Greta in any more danger.”
“We wouldn’t even be in this mess if you wouldn’t have captured us.”
Tolcan growled. “Watch yourself, human. I may have saved you from a fate worse than death, but it was only because my mate asked me to. As far as I’m concerned you’re in the way.”
“Your mate? Your fucking mate?” Jayce sounded outraged as he stared at Greta. She knew how this was going to go if things didn’t calm down. Pushing on Tolcan’s chest until he set her down, she put herself between him and Jayce, and looked at the man she’d grown up with, the man she saw as a brother.
“Please, no fighting, no beating chests like cavemen. We don’t need to be fighting with each other. We have enough against us right now.” She breathed out and moved over to a ledge, sitting down and bracing her hands on her knees. She was scared, tired, and didn’t know how things would play out. They had no supplies, no food or water, and all of the Rogues, or it seemed as much, were hunting them.
“We can’t stay here for long. I want to keep moving, get far away from the Rogue soldiers. They won’t stop, not since they know I’ve mated Greta, took you from Redon, and killed Rogue officers. They’ll be hunting us. We need to find a place deep enough their scans can’t detect us, or get far enough away that we can buy ourselves some time to formulate a better, more airtight plan.”
God, this had gone from bad to horribly worse.
23
Tolcan kept an eye on Greta, and although he knew she was exhausted, she wouldn’t let him carry her. Jayce and he had calmed the rage burning between them, because they had more important things to worry about. The soldiers hadn’t caught up with them yet, but being an Enforcer, Tolcan knew their strategies, and knew what they’d think of doing before they did it.
It was how he’d outsmarted them for the last few days they’d been traveling. Hell, he’d taught them those strategies, and now he was using it against them.
They moved through the forest, around the thick trunks of the trees, and through a small creek. But his superior senses picked up on a twig snapping in the distance. Instantly he had Greta beside him and on the ground. He gestured for Jayce to do the same. They were silent, and Tolcan listened, waited. He heard nothing for a minute or so, then heard another rustling, this time closer.
He unsheathed his sword silently, slowly rose, and scanned the perimeter of their surroundings. And then he saw him, the Rogue, partially hidden behind a tree, camouflaged. He moved closer, used his training to have the upper hand. But he was surprised when the male that stepped out from behind the tree was none other than Stellan.
Stellan held his hands up in surrender. “I have no weapons and mean you no harm.”
“Why are you tracking us?” Tolcan asked, keeping his body between him and Greta. Jayce was beside Tolcan, and he was surprised at the strength the human male showed.
“I couldn’t find you after the arena incident, and I’ve come here to offer you a safe haven to yourself and your mate, and of course the human male.” He gestured to Jayce. “I’ve also come to ask for your help.”
Tolcan stared at him. “Help? I can’t be any use. I’ve been banished from the Rogues, that’s clear from what I’ve done.”