Page 34

34

Taken

*Jalen*

I strolled back to the cave, tossing a ripe haldi fruit between my hands. It’d taken longer than I’d expected to hike back to the tree I’d spotted, but Ren would thank me when she tasted her salad.

That’s not all she ought to be thankful for. The smug grin I’d been wearing since I left her half-passed out on the pallet still hadn’t budged. Relax, I told myself as I spotted the door ahead. She still hasn’t agreed to—Wait. Why is the door open?

My heart instantly climbed into my throat. “Ren!” I raced forward, ducking inside.

The haldi splattered on the floor with a wet plop. Instead of the blissed-out female I was expecting, I found chaos.

Vegetables were splattered everywhere, as if someone had tried to use them to paint the walls. Ren’s bag had been upended, the once neatly folded clothing and supplies strewn on the sheets.

And worse, she was gone.

No, not gone. Taken.

There was no question in my mind that Ren wouldn’t leave like this. She was serious about helping her friend, and she had no clue where to go next. Besides, she wouldn’t leave after what we just shared. Would she?

I shook off the lingering doubt as a splotch of red caught my eye. I bent, dipping my fingers into the small pool of blood I’d nearly missed. Still wet. “She can’t be far.”

With a determined stride, I marched out of the cave. I had to find her. And when I did, whoever had taken my mate would pay with their life.

Ice coursed through my veins as I stopped in the clearing. “Ren… Where are you?” There were countless paths she could’ve taken through the jungle. If I chose the wrong one, I might never find her.

Horrid, nauseating images rose to plague me. The blood… was that hers? What if her captors were hurting her while I stood there hesitating? What if I was too late? I might find her body on the trail, broken and lifeless.

I dragged my hands through my hair, pacing. No. I would find her. I just had to start moving.

Wait… if she was still bleeding, then there might be a trail.

Hope bloomed in my heart as I combed the trees, starting in the opposite direction from where I’d come. It made sense that they’d have taken a different path. I’d have heard footsteps otherwise.

But after long moments of searching, the hope withered to dust. Nothing. No blood drops, at least. My heart lifted as I realized the stain in the cave must not belong to a serious wound as I’d first feared. Even so, it didn’t help me find her.

I sucked in a shaky breath, resolved to expand my search grid, when I spotted something that made my eyes widen. A bright dash of orange decorated a tree trunk just ahead. I strolled toward it, smiling as I recognized the biteroot stain.

Scanning further, my smile deepened as I spotted another stain. And another.

“Clever.” Ren remembered my lessons. Somehow, she’d gotten hold of some biteroot leaves and left me a trail.

I wasn’t about to waste it. Keeping my steps light, I marched into the forest, following as fast as I could while staying silent.

There was no way of knowing how many villains had taken her. I could be rushing into a battle I had no chance of winning. Still, I wouldn’t let that stop me. The thought of her hurt and scared drew me forward incessantly.

She didn’t deserve that. After everything she’d been through, all the men who’d treated her like a piece of meat, the last thing she deserved was being taken prisoner.

What did they even want her for? The horrific possibilities bloomed in my mind and made my chest ache. They could be slavers intent on selling her to whoever paid the highest price, or butchers ready to cut her to pieces and sell her organs on the black market. Or worse, they could want her for the same reason as the others—her body.

No! I’ll find her and make those bastards pay, even if it kills me.