Page 40 of Burdened Bonds

“We’re not letting them go,” Renzo growls. “We’re going to kill them.”

“I don’t want to kill them,” I growl right back.

“We’re going to anyway.” He grins at the men and I’m not blind to the way his eyes twinkle with relish.

“We are not killing any more people!”

“Are you done?” the first man asks. “And might I point out that you are outnumbered. The only ones doing any killing here will be us, so if you want to avoid that, Renzo, you’ll hand her over.”

Renzo chuckles like that’s the best joke he’s heard in years. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with,” he says, tears running down his cheeks as the amusement rocks his body.

“We do, Renzo Barone. We know you well enough,” the first man says with even more irritation.

“I’m not talking about me, knuckleheads. I’m talking about her.” He turns and looks at me, winks and then sends another blast of magic hurtling the men’s way. This time even more powerful.

I tut at him, but when the fire is returned four fold, hitting his body, making him stumble backwards, blood mixing with the tears on his face, I’m forced to step in. I send a flurry of my own magic back. Not strong enough to kill, but enough to have them pacing backwards.

“I’m giving you a chance,” I call out. “A chance to walk away. This doesn’t have to end in violence. No one has to get hurt.”

Renzo scoffs and spits blood onto the forest floor. “So you’d let them walk away, would you? What do you think they were going to do to that family, little rabbit?” he asks me. “Invite them round for tea?”

I know he’s right. Of course he is. I just … I just don’t want to …

“What were you going to do?”

The second man sniggers, cruelty painted clearly across his face.

The first man ignores him. “They’re fugitives. Potential criminals. We were going to take them in for questioning. We weren’t going to hurt them. And we won’t hurt you either, little girl. So if you’re really keen to avoid someone getting killed,” he motions his head towards Renzo, “then come with us now.”

“And where will you take me?”

“We’ll hand you in to the authorities. Seems you’re wanted. Although who the fuck knows why.”

“The authorities?” I say glancing at Renzo. Does that mean the invasion by the West failed? Are the authorities still in charge?

As if reading my thoughts, the man adds, “There are new authorities in charge now.” The fourth man has stumbled back onto his feet and all four stand ready to attack us. “So, what’s it going to be?”

“Fuck this!” Renzo says and before I can stop him, he sends a powerful ball of fire directly at the men. It’s so fast, so powerful, the four men have no time to respond and they’re consumed by the flames in a matter of seconds. Theyscream, a noise that has me turning away and covering my ears. The heat from the fire fierce on my back.

The flames crackle. The screaming dies away and in another second so have the flames, the cold air returning in its place.

I remove my hands from my ears. I’m too scared to turn around, too appalled to look at what must remain of the men. Instead, I glance at Renzo. His eyes remain fixed that way, a fascination dancing in them.

“You shouldn’t have done that,” I say, scooping Pip up into my arms. “There was no need.”

He jolts out of his trance and his gaze snaps my way. He looks at me with as much fascination and curiosity.

“You know there was no other way, little rabbit.”

“There was. If we’d–”

“You think they wouldn’t have done the same to us?”

There’s blood still seeping from his hairline down his face and he blinks as it smudges into his eyes.

I start walking, through the trees, and when I’m far enough away from what’s just happened, I flop down onto the cold earth of the forest floor and bury my face in my hands.

I don’t know what to do.