Reaching Retribution(47)

“You’ve all heard about the prophecy. Ryanne has proven to all of us multiple times that she’s truly the girl mentioned in it. There’s no refuting that once you’ve met her. She’s everything we need in a leader. She’s strong, fearless, and selfless. She puts the needs of everyone above her own. She’s the most strong-willed, determined and loyal person you’ll ever meet.

“Right now, that girl, my soulmate, is in the hands of the Gadramicks. She has her magic, but is way outnumbered. She’s not stupid, so she won’t fight her way out of it. She needs us, every last one of us, to help her. She won’t ask for any help, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need it. Now, I’m going to go to Dravin’s compound, with or without your help. However, we have a greater chance of being successful if you join us,” I finish and look over at Tom. The room is silent as everyone takes in my words.

Natalie squeezes my arm, reassuring me and pushing calming magic into me. Why is no one saying anything? No one even reacts. They all just stare. “You said all that you could,” she whispers to me. “The rest is up to them.”

Tom takes a step forward. “There’s one more thing you should know.” Mumbling fills the room. Everyone looks around the room, wondering what Tom could be referring to. He waits until everyone quiets again before continuing. “Dravin’s not in charge of the Gadramicks. They have someone more powerful calling all the shots.”

Everyone starts talking at once. “What are you talking about?”

“How is that possible?”

“It can’t be true. We’ve fought against him before!”

Tom shouts for everyone to be quiet. Hearing the harshness in his tone, the room falls silent. He doesn’t yell unless it’s absolutely necessary. “A mage named Zahtri is actually in charge of the Gadramicks. For some reason, he wants his identity to remain a secret until the most opportune moment. Ryanne had a vision about him and that’s why she told Dravin she would go with them. She was protecting us all. The only way we can stop all of this is if Ryanne is with us. She’s the only one powerful enough to go against Zahtri,” Tom pauses and looks around the room, making eye contact with as many people as possible. “Will you help us on our rescue mission?”





Chapter Fourteen


I can hear slight ruffling around me—the sound of fabric scratching and snagging against a hard rough surface. Pulling my knees up, I try to asses my surroundings before I open my eyes. My face is resting against a hard surface, but it isn’t hard enough to be the concrete flooring. Something is moving the ends of my hair. Not finding any immediate sources of danger, I open my eyes with hesitance and find that I’m lying in a cell in Dravin’s compound with my head in Liam’s lap and the rest of me sprawled on the cool, concrete flooring.

I push myself up into a seated position and attempt to stretch. There’s not a whole lot I can do though; my body is way too stiff from sleeping on the hard floor. As I move, Liam lets go of a strand of my hair. At my questioning look, he replies, “I understand Colton’s fascination with your hair.”

“His fascination?” I wasn’t aware that Colton had a fascination with my hair.

“Yeah, he loves your hair.” He says as he wraps another curl around his index finger, staring intently at the end of my hair.

“Well, he can have it. I was thinking about cutting it anyway. The longer it gets the curlier it becomes.”

“Don’t cut your hair,” Adam says as he enters our cell. He glances at me before giving Liam a glaring look which he returns. Honestly, if I didn’t know either of them, I’d be more afraid of Liam than Adam. Liam’s general appearance makes him more intimidating.

“Will you two stop being stupid? Adam, is there a reason why you barged into our lovely cell on what I’m assuming is a bright and shining morning?” I ask him politely. Liam releases the strand of hair and it bounces back into place. I catch a small smile from him at the movement, but he doesn’t take his eyes off of Adam.

“I’m supposed to make sure you didn’t escape during the night,” he tells me.

I stare at him blankly. “Couldn’t you have just done that through the window?” I say as I point to the small window in the door.

“Yes, I could have,” he says. But? He’s still glaring at Liam. What does he have that I don’t?

I look between Adam and Liam again. Adam is jealous of Liam? I bite my lip to keep from smiling. This just keeps getting better and better.

“Adam, will I get killed if I ask to go to the restroom?” He stares at me incredulously. “What? Has Dr. Arden found a way to cure the need for bathroom breaks or something? I could always pull the I’m on my period card.”