A branch scratched my cheek and I lost some hair as I made my way up to the highest limb that was solid enough to hold my weight.
The place was enormous. It was still a far cry from the countries of old, but all the new countries were smaller. It had a watchtower nearby, but it wasn’t manned. These people were really slacking. There were three other towers, but none of them would be close enough to spot me in this tree in the middle of the night.
Now, which building would be holding their supplies?
“You can come down that tree now. Unless you want us to burn it down,” a male said from below.
I froze. Maybe they weren’t talking to me? Maybe there was someone else up a tree in the middle of the night? It could happen. The odds weren’t in my favor, though. Now what?
“You’ve got five seconds.”
I looked down and saw two shadows beneath me. For large men, they were sneakily quiet. How had I not heard them? Even now, the shifting of their feet was loud.
I saw one raise a finger, and a flame shot out of it. It wasn’t directed toward the tree, but it could be. Would they risk a fire this close to their home? The one guy was obviously Wyrd Blood, so he might be able to put it out.
The flame grew larger as I watched. Suggestion taken, I started shimmying down the tree.
I maneuvered myself so I’d be on the far side from them, and once I had only a ten-foot drop left, I jumped. I hit the ground hard and then ran.
A hand clamped around my arm within seconds, and I shot a zap to the area. It was enough to make whichever one had grabbed me let go as he cursed. I might’ve made it if they hadn’t gotten a grip on my hair. I knew I should’ve chopped it off. I spun to reach out and zap the one who had caught me, but he quickly readjusted his grip. His hand stretched out above my head, his reach much greater than mine.
My fingers went to my hip, grabbing the knife that hung there.
“I wouldn’t do that.” The tension on my hair increased until I was nearly on tiptoes. I released the knife and my heels found the ground again. Unless I wanted to get scalped, I couldn’t do much more than stand there.
They were both Wyrd Blood, but neither were strong enough to rile my magic. The one who’d lit the fire from his finger stepped closer. He had a trim build, but not the lankiness you normally saw. This was someone who was naturally lean, as opposed to malnourished. Light brown hair brushed his shoulders as he looked me over.
“What do you think, Burn?” the man holding my hair asked.
Burn leaned down, his eyes the color of warm whiskey, and I could feel the magic on him. I could feel the magic on them both. Why couldn’t this have been one of those times that magic meeting magic didn’t work out so well?
“My guess? She’s pretty strong, even if she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
They had to insult me now too? Wasn’t my impending death or slavery enough? Fuck ’em. I was as good as dead now. No point in holding back. “Thanks, Burn. Great name. Very original.”
My barb didn’t even seem to prick his skin, as I felt his magic poking. It was the rudest thing you could do to another Wyrd Blood.
“Do you mind?” I asked. Luckily, it was an annoyance, since neither he, nor the guy holding me by my hair, had enough magic to make it truly uncomfortable.
“You think she’s the one Ryker’s been looking for?”
“Yeah, Sneak, I do.”
Sneak. If my head wasn’t stuck in one position, I would’ve shaken it. “Let me guess, you’re good at sneaking up on people?”
I couldn’t see Sneak’s face, but I heard the laugh. It seemed as if catching me had made their night.
After his laugh settled down, he said, “Are you going to walk back nice or am I going to be getting an arm cramp?”
“Wouldn’t want you to have to strain yourself.”
His hand dropped, along with the tension on my scalp. Sneak moved forward, walking ahead of me, Burn waiting for me to follow him so he could fall in behind. Just to screw with me, the sounds of our footsteps seemed to disappear on and off as we went.
I’d always imagined going down in dragon fire, with Ruck by my side. Not walking toward my end, already defeated because I’d gotten into a hair-pulling fight. This was pathetic.
They’d shoved me in a stone room with one door and no windows, but at least they’d left me my sack. They hadn’t even checked it. Not that I had anything that was going to help me much, just enough hollyhoney to keep me going for a little over a week. My knife was still on my hip, too. I wasn’t sure if I should be happy or insulted.
I didn’t know how long they’d leave me here, but I knew who I was waiting for.
I’d never met Ryker, but everyone in our parts had heard of him. I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear that people far across the land had, too. The one thing they said the most was that he was one of the strongest Wyrd Blood around.
Rumors, so often wrong, were correct this time. The wave of magic approaching was so potent that it stole the breath from my lungs. It hadn’t been an exaggeration. He was as strong as they’d said. My throat tightened as the possibility that I wouldn’t make it out of this room became the only thought I had. His magic might kill me. In the past, the threat had always been to others, not me. I’d always had more magic than them. No harm had been intended, but you never know how magic would interact.
The door swung open. The room filled with power like a punch to the senses, nearly knocking me off balance. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the worst as my magic rioted and bucked against his. It was like unintentionally throwing myself against a mountain. His magic didn’t push back or retreat, simply remained an immovable force that mine rammed against. His control was immense and the tension eased from my shoulders. If it had rammed back, I would’ve been dead. It took a few moments, but my magic slowly calmed down and flowed around his, like a stream passing around stone.
I tilted my head back, opening my eyes. He was standing across the room from me, leaning on the wall as I righted my senses.
Blackest hair I’d ever seen, harsh planes surrounding eyes so deep set that it was striking. The loose black shirt and pants he wore still pulled tight here and there, conforming to the chiseled hardness of a warrior.
But his eyes, a flash of blue ice—that was where the strength really showed. Another thing I’d often heard about people who had strong magic in their veins was it sometimes showed in the eyes. I’d never seen it until now. There was a lightness and a power there.
If anything, this man was more than the rumors had led me to believe. There was a reason no one messed with this place, and I should’ve heeded the warnings. I was outclassed in every way, and I wasn’t delusional enough to pretend otherwise. I’d made the worst mistake of my life, and it would probably leave me dead.
He stepped closer and then squatted next to me. That was when I realized his magic had brought me to one knee. A strange tingling feeling buzzed my skin, and I stumbled back before I got to my feet and moved away from him. “What was that?”
His expression softened and his mouth was turned up slightly at the corners. “Just making sure it wasn’t a fluke.”
I had no idea what he was talking about.
“She the one?” Burn asked, as he stepped inside the room.
“Yes, and I’m about to confirm it,” Ryker responded, not turning his stare from me. “Open your jacket and lift up your shirt.”
I pulled my jacket closer. “What are you, some sort of pervert?”
His head tilted just a hint to the side, as if he didn’t have time for my kind of stupid. “I want to see your mark, not your chest. You’re too strong for it to not be on your torso.”