Reaching Retribution(68)

“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk, all in good time. All will be revealed in good time. First, we have some other things discuss.”

I glance at Natalie. “She’s still alive, Colton. That much is obvious. Be patient.” I look behind me. Tom quietly moves toward me with Vincent directly behind him.

“We’re all here, but I think we should hear what he is going to say before we act.” I want to save Ryanne and Liam, but Dravin could say something we could use later. He could change everything with just a few words.

“Our goal was to bring Ryanne here and find out the extent of her magic. However, the girl is stubborn.” All the Gadramicks start mumbling at once. “Her blood samples were inconclusive. Since she refused to use magic when provoked, I had to take matter into my own hands.”

I have a bad feeling about this. I turn toward Natalie, who’s watching the scene in front of us with wide eyes. “Ryanne’s a threat to everything we stand for. She hasn’t found out about our human experiments, but she knows enough to completely oppose us.”

“They’re testing on humans?” Emma asks Larkin.

Larkin shrugs. “I honestly had no idea about that.” Kyril shakes his head, agreeing with Larkin. How did Dravin test on humans without anyone knowing about it?

“Could those be all the people reported missing recently?” Natalie asks.

“It’s possible,” Tom says as he listens to what Dravin is saying.

“Her magic is strong,” he continues. “I’ve seen firsthand what she can do, but she’s not strong enough to go against us. I feel a battle brewing. We’re getting close, but we need someone who can stand up against any future threats if necessary.”

The Gadramicks start talking amongst themselves again. They all thought Dravin was that person. “Yes, yes. I’m in charge,” Dravin yells over them. They quiet and give him his attention again. “However, there’s another mage stronger than me who is ready to lead. Ready to take his rightful place as the head of all Gadramicks.”

Dravin turns and points toward the door. The compound door slowly opens, and I can see the outline of a large man standing there. Physically, he looks to be the size of Bragden. As he steps out of the compound and the light finally hits him, I see nothing but the small form in his arms. David and Conner both jump over to me and keep me from jumping out from behind the bushes.

“Ezra?” I hear Bragden say as he sits up slightly. Incendia turns and looks him confused. Liam freezes as he looks at the man in front of him.

“That’s Ezra? The Ezra?” Incendia asks. Who the heck is Ezra?

Either Bragden doesn’t hear her or he chooses not to reply. He glares up at the stage, body tensed and waiting. Ne needs this fight just as much as the rest of us. We all want this to end.

Zahtri is holding an unconscious Ryanne in his arms. I clench my jaw to keep from yelling out, because every fiber in my body wants me to jump up and protect my soulmate. From this distance I can see a bruise on the side of Ryanne’s head. She’s slowly starting to stir in his arms.

“She’s as fragile as she looks,” Zahtri says as he drops Ryanne onto the platform and steps over her body. The loud thud of her limp body hitting the hard surface causes anger to surge through me. David and Conner put more pressure on me to keep me down while Natalie covers my mouth to keep me from yelling out.

Liam instantly starts fighting against the mages holding him back. “You son of a—”

“It’s nice to see you again, Liam. How’s Bragden doing?” he asks. Bragden starts to get up, but Travis and his father stop him.

With a laugh, Zahtri turns around and faces everyone. “I know none of you know me, but a couple of you have sensed me around. I commend those of you who could do that. I’m Zahtri and I’ve been the one calling all the shots. Dravin’s been listening to my orders and leading you. I haven’t been needed until now. Until that girl,” he points to Ryanne, who is still lying on her side. “came along. She’s stirred up trouble where there was none. That’s why I have to step in.”

Ryanne groans and blinks her eyes open. “You know dropping someone while they’re unconscious is a little rude. What kind of host are you?” she yells up at him. Ryanne pushes herself up into a seated position and looks at Zahtri with a sweet smile on her face. I hear Incendia and Emma snicker to my left. Ryanne stands up and walks over to Zahtri and points at him with her cuffed hands. She whispers something to him, too quietly for any of us to hear. He looks down at Ryanne amused, but pushes her behind him and steps forward.