“Where’s that cat of yours?” Rush asks, his green eyes are wide and alight from the fire.
“He’s over there.” I wave to the right and stretch out my legs.
I can feel Prince. He’s content to hide in the darkness. He showed up after I finished eating.
I watch with a tiny smile on my face as Rush squints into the blackness. Prince growls, causing Rush to jerk back, and a slight chuckle causes my body to shake.
“How long was I out for?” I ask no one in particular as I pick at my dirty fingernails.
“Bout thirty minutes,” Bran whispers in that way of his.
No wonder I still feel like shit. I reach behind me and drag the pack to me. Once I got the damn thing open, my fingers did not want to work correctly. I dragged out the bedroll and laid it out beside me. This should have been the first thing I did. I need to sleep and rest. It’s a must if Keen plans on pushing us the same way he did today.
The snap of a stick has me twisting around on my ass, facing the darkness behind me. My heart beats dangerously fast in my chest, and saliva fills my mouth as my flight or fight instincts kick in. Prince growls, and the flight wins as I move quickly to Keen.
My eyes widen at him when I realize what I just did? Another sharp snap in the darkness has me not caring as I scramble to my feet and move behind him as he climbs slowly to his feet, a smirk on his lips.
Has Rylan found me? Will this be the end of my freedom as I know it?
“It’s alright, doll. Nothing to worry about.” Keen says, glancing over his shoulder at me. “They’ve been following us for about four miles into the Sable and finally dared to introduce themselves.”
“How do you know?” I whisper harshly, peering into the night.
“Talents.” Keen chuckles. “I have many if you would like to find out?” His eyebrow quirks and I blush clear to my toes.
I shake my head, and he shrugs his shoulders, staring back out into the dark.
“Come out, lads. We know you’re there.” Keen calls into the darkness.
My eyes widen when two twin men stumble into the light of the fire. They’re both short and stout with dark hair and eyes. My lip curls as a slimy smile falls across their faces at the same time.
“Ye don’t mind, do ya?” The one on the right questions striding towards the fire and sitting down. The one on the left stalks towards his twin.
My heart hammers in my chest. I don’t like them. There’s something about them that causes the little hairs on my body to stand on end like a pissed-off cat.
Keen moves to the right, and I shadow his movements and glance down as Prince rubs his head on my clenched fist. My fingers relax as I lay my hand on his big head. My heartbeat starts to level out as Bran and Rush join us on this side of the fire.
“What brings you two to the Sable?” Rush asks, crossing his arms across his chest. A muscle ticks in his jaw.
“Like anyone else, I suppose.” Twin one chuckles, holding his hands out in front of the fire.
Twin two just stares at me, and Keen moves a bit closer, putting me behind his shoulders slightly.
Twin two's eyes narrow on Keen, then a smirk comes across his dirty face.
"Yeah, we’re heading towards Green Glades,” Keen says as his head cocks to the side as he sits down. I stay standing, moving back into the darkness a bit. Prince rubs along my legs as I stare twin two down.
He’s going to do something idiotic. I can feel it. My blood feels like it starts to heat in my veins, causing sweat to slide down my spine.
“Green Glades, ye say. We just came from there, right brother?” Twin one says, a flicker of something in his dark eyes.
“Charming little town.” Twin one smiles.
“So, we heard,” Rush says.
Bran cracks his knuckles, and I take a step back, “Heard, it’s not so nice anymore. Been having some problems with kids going missing.”
I take another step back into the darkness as the Twins share a look.
Prince leans into me at the same time they rush to their feet, and black roots burst from the dirt.
Keen waves his hand, and they stop inches from his face.
My breath catches in my lungs, and my heart beats too fast to be healthy.
“That wasn’t very nice now, was it?” Keen chuckles, standing up.
The brothers share a look, and their hands move again, only to be stopped by the tree branches. I gasp as I watch the two men slowly get molded into the black trees. Their legs and arms get swallowed by the tree’s midnight bark. A piece of the tree unravels from the trunk, covering their mouths.
“Well, that was easier than I expected.” Rush chuckles, sitting back down by the fire.
My mouth opens and closes as Keen, Bran, and Rush look at me.
I lick my lips and stare back at the twins encased in the tree. They’re still breathing, death shining from their dark eyes.
“What in the hell is going on?” I screech, my heart still pounding against my chest bone.
CHAPTER NINE
“So, let me get this straight, you three are bounty hunters?” I mumble, still in shock. I cross my legs on the ground, leaning forward, putting my hands under my chin.
Keen, Bran, and Rush share a loaded expression that makes me nervous.
“What was that?” I ask, pointing my finger between the three of them with narrowed eyes.
“You could say we are,” Rush says as he laughs.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I cross my arms across my chest.
“We hunt whatever needs hunting and pays the most.” Keen states, stretching his arms.
My eyebrows go up. “What the hell! Just tell me.” I snap. I’m so sick of not understanding anything.
“Like those two guys.” Bran murmurs, pulling my attention to his face. “They hurt a couple of kids.”
My pulse starts to thud.
“Last week, we hunted a bear that was terrorizing a small village,” Rush says, popping his knuckles.
That doesn’t seem so bad.
“Last month.” Keen clears his throat, staring into the flames. “We hunted down an Electus and took him back to his village.”
My back straightens as I look at Keen, who is avoiding my eyes. They hunted down an Electus. My mouth goes dry. I’m an Electus. I blink and climb to my feet. Could they be hunting me? Was this all a scheme to get me to trust them? I take a step back when Keen slowly climbs to his feet. Now his pale green eyes are on my face.
“I know what you’re thinking, Basil.”
I scoff, “Yeah, and what is that?” My fingers curl into my palms as my blood heats again, causing my body to sweat.
“That we are hunting you, but that’s not the case, I promise.” Keen’s hands clench, and I take another unsteady step back. “Meeting you was a pure accident. That’s why I didn’t want you to know what we do for a living. I didn’t want you to think about what you're thinking now.” Keen says.
“We only have one Electus. I’m yours, and you are mine. How would that have worked? Think, Basil. We just met each other. How could I hunt for you when you’re my Electus, and we only have one.”
My eyes flick down to the ground and back up to Keens. His smile slowly slips from his face at what he sees in mine.