Page 41 of Burdened Bonds

This man is a psychopath – and as much as I’d like to deny it, pretend it wasn’t the case – it’s clear he gets a kick out of killing. But then not everything he says is madness. Those men – what would they have done to those families – to that man, to those women – stars– to those children?! What would they have done to me?

And he’s right about people out looking for me too. Those men confirmed it. The price on my head has quadrupled. Quadrupled! So am I right to be hiding out here withhim, hoping my mates find me? Or should I be out searching for them?

I just don’t know.

The thought of them hurt, injured, in danger, has my body shaking and I instinctively reach out for them through the bond. I can sense them over the distance – alive – trying to reach me too, stretching and straining to find me. It’s unbearable and my body shakes all the harder.

“Little rabbit?” the man who’s just added four more kills to his name says behind me. “Those kids are safe. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

I wipe my face with my hands, and peer up at him.

I can read the genuine puzzlement in his features. He’s trying to understand me. I wipe the back of my hand under my nose. Good luck to him because I don’t even understand myself.

I sniff, and pull myself back up onto my feet.

“Yes, you’re right. It is what I wanted.” I nod, scraping my hair back from my face. “Thank you. Thank you for that.”

His eyes travel all over my face, trying to read my expression. Then he cocks his head.

“I think you need some sleep, little rabbit.”

As soon as he says the words, I realize how right he is. I’m exhausted, utterly shattered, emotionally, mentally, physically. All I want to do is lie down, close my eyes and sleep for a hundred years.

“You said it was too dangerous to sleep out here in the forest,” I say.

“It is,” he says, “but there’s somewhere … come on.”

He starts to walk. He no longer has my bag – we lost that in the dash through the trees – and my pig is lying patiently by my feet waiting for me to make a decision. I peer in theopposite direction. I don’t have to follow him. I could go my own way.

He keeps walking, silently, barely making a sound, not looking back to see if I’m following.

“What do I do?” I stare down at Pip, who stares right back at me. His dark eyes jet in the gloom. He doesn’t answer me.

This is my decision. Not his. Not Renzo’s.

I close my eyes and it’s my bond that answers me, tugging me in the direction of the assassin.

I open my eyes and glance down at my stomach and for once I decide to follow fate’s command.

“Come on,” I say to Pip. He doesn’t move and for the first time I register that something isn’t right. I crouch down beside my pet. He’s breathing rapidly, his little rib cage falling and rising at a frantic pace and his entire body shaking.

“Pip!” I scream.

18

Renzo

I hearmy little rabbit scream and I’m bounding through the undergrowth towards her without a second’s thought. I find her crouching on the ground, her little pig laid out in front of her wheezing and shaking.

“Pip,” she sobs, her hands fluttering all over him in indecision. “What’s wrong? I don’t know what’s wrong with him!”

I examine the animal. His eyes are glazed, his jaw grinding in pain.

“D’you get hit by some magic, little man?” I ask him and my little rabbit glances up at me in alarm.

“Hit!” she gasps. “Shit! Pip!” She grabs a hold of the sleeve of my jacket, pulling on it. “He’s so tiny. He can’t … what should we do?”

“Little rabbit,” I say, waving my hand above the smallpig, trying to determine what’s wrong with him. “Calm the fuck down.”