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“Please. You must go south, between the tallest mountain peaks.”

Already planning to do just that, Nathair carefully lifted him out of his tail. He didn’t waste any time as he shoved the male back towards the village. Using his arms as additional leverage for his slithering speed and agility, he headed towards the southern peaks of this mountain range. He knew where the male was talking of, as he’d snuck past it on his travels this far north.

Within a few hours, he’d have that female in his arms again.

His orbs reddened as venom flooded his maw.I’ll kill all of them for touching her.

By the time they made it to the main bandit camp, the entire day had passed, night had come, and Linh’s legsached.

Barth, the bandit who carried her from the village, had put her bare feet on the ground. She’d been shoved the entire way, and they refused to stop. They never took into consideration that Linh was not made of muscle and didn’t have the stamina of a horse.

At least they removed the mouth gag so she could breathe properly.

She’d tried not to be scared, but she’d jumped at every sound in the distance. They’d been attacked multiple times, all the Demons heading straight for her, and they lost a man in the constant brawls.

It worsened when night came. She’d been terrified of the dark, fretful about where they were taking her.

The first time she’d been forced to do this walk, she’d cried for her mum and dad. All she could picture now was the big, sweet serpent Duskwalker.

More than ever, she wanted him here to protect her,to soothe her anxious heart. She needed him to settle her constant tears and help rid her of the horrible memories that incessantly pervaded her thoughts. She needed his waterlily-and-moonflower scent to shroud her in a false sense of comfort, and for his cool body to dull the heat from her sprinting pulse.

As she was led through a particular path, the wooden walls she approached grew taller and more daunting with each step. Her face drained of heat, and ice shards frosted her veins. Yet sweat dotted her as a familiar sickening gut twist made her throat clog.

I never wanted to see this place again.

If someone gave her a torch, she’d burn it to the ground.

Linh fought when they took her through the entrance. Her strength came from utter fear, utter repulsion, and it flooded adrenaline straight into every muscle. Her heartbeat was so fast it thumped in her abdomen.

“No. Please,” she begged, before a wall of muscle pushed her through the threshold.

Linh crashed to her hands and knees onto rocky dirt. When she fell to her hip, her long, loose hair swaying over her shoulder, she lost all her will. She would rather sit in the dirt than go any further forward.

A set of black boots stopped just beyond her hands. Then a set of leather-padded knees came into view as he crouched with one elbow rested on his knee.

A rough, meaty hand grabbed her chin, and Linh’s face was shoved upwards into a man’s. His green eyes were dark, like a poisonous plant, and they somehow came across as delighted in their narrowed glare.

Her lips parted on a silent cry as she was forced to take in his crooked nose, the strong brow and cheek bones, and lips which were partially hidden away by a short beard. His hair was such a light brown that it was almost blonde, and it was tied back in a low ponytail.

“Hey, sugar,” Bragg greeted, his muscled shoulders stiffening beneath his stained cream tunic. “I’m glad the lads were able to get you here safe and sound.”

“Yeah, but she fucking bitched the whole time,” one of her escorts stated as he stepped around them.

Bragg reached down to grab the bottom of her white gown, and the tiny hairs on her body stood on end in worry.

“What kind of dress is this?” Bragg asked, refusing to let go of her face as he looked up at another bandit passing them. “And where’s her shoes? She can’t travel in this.”

Folding his arms behind his head, Barth shrugged. “She was in the hospital. Not much else we could do.”

Bragg tsked, and Linh’s shoulders turned inwards when he returned his focus to her.

The warmth in his gaze didn’t match his next words, even when he spoke them softly. “Run from me again, and I’ll let the Demons have you.” He stood and then dragged Linh to her feet by her upper arm. Bragg carted her towards the centre of the camp as he shouted, “Make sure you’re all ready by first light. The others will meet us at our home base in a few weeks to make sure no one follows us.”

Linh stumbled and tripped over her feet, especially as she used them to push off and away from him. Her gaze darted around the camp, and she noticed only a few tents were still erected. Items clattered as they packed their belongings and assisted with lowering fortifications they wished to take with them.

A few horses neighed and whinnied in the background, startled by the noises, whereas others just grunted.

Linh dropped to a crouch when she thought he was taking her to his tent, then screamed and kicked. Bragg dragged her across the ground, only to grab a tight fistful of her hair.