Page 41

Wild Woman

Rumi

After days in the desert surviving on under-seasoned meat from animals they had caught themselves and not much else, the soup that Rumi was served was the most delicious food she had eaten in what felt like months.

Though she did not recognize many of the ingredients and flavors, and there were questionable lumps floating in the broth, she still guzzled it down like it was her last meal.

She also had grown accustomed to the sharpness of the drink, and was well into her third cup.

Perhaps a full belly was part of why she could not stop smiling every time she thought about Callum.

Thought about his kiss.

The door opened again behind her and another gust of wind blew a fresh swirl of dust inside.

The new guest spoke to the barkeeper in a low voice that sounded almost familiar.

She frowned at the red particulate that fell into her soup and now floated on the surface, mocking her.

With a grumble, she tried to pick the specks out, but they kept moving, and her fingers kept missing.

“Yes, two folks matching this description came in,”

she heard the barkeeper say, barely registering the words.

Rumi’s legs were abuzz with anxious energy.

And yet, she did not really care.

Her bones were blissfully numb and her belly nice and full.

“That’s her.”

Why was he speaking so loudly? Rumi thought to turn and tell him to be quieter so she could focus on picking the dust from her soup that had so rudely blown in with the loudmouth, but when she turned, she found herself staring into her nightmare.

“We meet again.”

“Get—”

Rumi shoved him at the waist, her movements slow and sloppy, and the room spun as she tipped from the chair and landed sprawled on the floor.

Had they poisoned her? What was in the food? The drink? Where was Cal?

She shrieked as Sullivan gripped the wrap over her head and yanked it back, tugging her hair along with it.

“The governor thanks you for your service, my good man,”

he said, tossing a handful of coins onto the table.

Rumi kicked at his knees, scrambling and struggling to get loose from the vise, but he held tight.

Two other men in uniforms matching Sullivan’s came around on either side and gripped her arms.

She fought as much as she could, thrashing like a fish, scratching and clawing, biting and shouting, but it was no use.

Where was Cal?

She kicked at one guard and got him right in the kneecap, making him fall, but the other man tightened his grip on her arm, twisting it hard.

Her eyes watered and she whimpered.

Desperately, she reached out with her Ti’la, but her grasp was weak.

Still, she quested, searching for something—anything she could use.

There was only stone, clay, and glass.

She took a shaky breath.

Sullivan bent in front of her and stroked her chin, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

She snapped at his fingers, hoping to draw blood.

He merely snatched her chin in his hand, and though she thought there may have been a flash of something in his eyes, it was gone before she could grasp it.

“They make muzzles for creatures like you,”

Sullivan said with a bored sigh, though the steel grip on her face spoke volumes.

He squeezed hard and forced her to meet his eyes.

“Did you really think you could escape me? You’re a fool.

Once I return with you, my honor will be restored.

You’d best get used to the idea of a cage once more, little bird.”

“Never.”

Rumi growled the word, trying to jerk away from his guards.

Their grip on her arms was bruising and the world kept spinning, but she could not tear her eyes away from the villain’s face.

His features would not stay in place as he observed her with that infuriatingly cold mask of his.

“Take her away.”

People stared as Sullivan and his men dragged her through the streets.

Her body refused to obey and she was utterly powerless against them.

A dark hopelessness threaded its way through her mind, threatening to consume her.

She had escaped once before with only pure luck and help from Jameson.

It was unlikely Sullivan would make the same mistake twice.

Now, Rumi understood why Cal had done things the way he had when he had first brought her off the ship.

Why he had put her to sleep with his poisoned darts.

They all gawked at her, watching the monsters parade some strange, wild woman through town.