“Good. You told them we were bringing her back.”
Raine nodded at Pete’s question. “Isn’t it obvious?”
She scanned the area again, but couldn’t tell how it was obvious. Pete, however, must’ve seen the question in her eyes.
“We don’t usually wear clothes. Just when we have a newcomer to the group.”
Great. They took me to a nudist colony. Well, at least they had enough courtesy to put clothes on for me.
“What is this place?”
“Home.”
Pete gestured to those around them. “Stay put and keep to yourself. At least until we say otherwise.”
“That sounds ominous.”
Raine’s grin was forced. “Yeah. It is. A little. Just do as Pete said.”
The brothers moved away to greet two men. One was an older man with white hair and a white beard. He held himself in a regal stance even though he leaned on a cane as he listened to Blue. The other was tiny, barely standing over three feet, and yet he didn’t have the characteristics of a little person. Instead, he reminded her of the elves in her favorite childhood books with his red hair, fair skin, and large feet.
“What the hell am I going to do? I’ve been abducted and forced deep into the woods. Not at all what I’d planned on when I started this trip,” she muttered.
Blue glanced back as though he’d heard her even though she was sure she’d spoken too softly. Did he have sensitive hearing like her?
She darted her gaze away from his and studied the people around her. They were of different ethnicities, sizes, and ages, but they all appeared to have one thing in common. Their faces were filled with joy.
What the heck is going on here? How can everyone be so damn happy? Unless they’re all drinking the Kool-Aid.
Was everything as idyllic as it seemed? Or were they brainwashed to the bone?
“That’s not possible.”
She jerked back to see the older man glaring at her. The protest that she hadn’t chosen to come was on her lips, but Pete shot her a warning look. Deciding that it was safer to follow their rules for now, she pressed her lips together and tried to act like fear wasn’t taking a hard hold on her.
“Yes, but I’m only telling you what I know. She wasn’t anywhere near the water, Charlton.” Blue stood straight and tall, but she could see an underlying uneasiness in the way he shifted back and forth on his feet. The fact that the white-haired man called Charlton made him nervous was apparent.
“But it was The Time of Coming,” added Raine. “That much we know. And remember what Jerry said about the odd sensation he felt when he chased her? Could another portal be open? One in the forest?”
Who’s Jerry? I didn’t see a man there.
Charlton kept quiet as his smaller friend shook his head vigorously. “Anything is possible in The Hidden. But let’s hope not. Still, even if that’s true, she shouldn’t have been able to enter on her own.”
“And yet she did. Jerry wasn’t touching her when she came through. She led him inside then fell into the pit The Cursed dug. She’s lucky they abandoned the trap a while ago.”
Came through what? And what is a Cursed?
“Which, again, isn’t possible.” Raine rubbed the back of his neck.
“Unless she’s one of us.” Pete brought her closer to Charlton, then gave her a quick, comforting smile before shifting his attention back to the group.
“That, at least, would make sense.” Charlton studied Blue, his own eyes a deeper shade than Blue’s. “Do you feel anything about her?”
What is he supposed to feel? Damn it all, why don’t they let me in on their discussion?
She had to refrain from demanding answers. If she did, she knew one of the men would end up hauling her away. She might never get any answers if she made them angry.
Charlton leaned on his cane, but she got the impression that he didn’t really need the crutch. His body was fit and possessed a strength not shown in brawn. “Let’s not discuss this anymore outside. I’ll call the other members of The Council and we’ll come to a decision. Meet us in the cabin once you have her settled in your tent.”
“Our tent?”
“Yes, Blue. Yours. Who else’s home should she stay in?” The stern expression on Charlton’s face softened. He patted Blue on the shoulder. “I doubt you’ll find her too much of a hardship.”
“Fine. If that’s what you think is best.”
Pete edged closer to Charlton and said something she couldn’t hear. Charlton’s hard look returned and his piercing blue eyes landed on her again. He gave Pete a curt nod then spun around and strode away. The small man started to speak then clamped his mouth closed and twirled around to scurry after Charlton.