Ransomed to the World

by Stacey Brutger

  He was still skittish, still underweight, but he was getting better. Every night, he held her tight, as if afraid something might happen if he wasn’t touching her, and every night, the nightmares faded a bit more.

  She wished she could do more for him. Thanks to her sadistic uncle who raised her after her mother died, she knew physical pain was easier to deal with than the mental scars that remain unseen. She walked toward him and ran her fingers over the tips of his ears, smiling when he brushed his face against her palm for more snuggles before he darted off into the woods.

  Prem quickly gave chase, determined to bedevil the guy no matter what form he took, and she laughed as the two of them tussled. When she turned away, she saw the rest of the guys were ready and waiting for her.

  Inhaling deeply, she took the first step that would take them deeper into the forest and up a freakin’ mountain. Everyone wore backpacks except for the girls. Loulou laughed and chased butterflies, the wolves doing their best to corral her, while Willa put on her sunglasses and popped in a set of earbuds, as if they could block out the rest of the world.

  After the first hour, they fell into a rhythm. As the morning turned into afternoon, the guys pushed them along relentlessly, their never flagging energy making her more than a tad cranky. To keep herself busy, she called on the afterworld, pulling a couple of butterflies into existence. They floated around her, beating their wings slowly as they waited for her command.

  Prem stretched up on his hind legs and sniffed at them curiously, but otherwise ignored them. Not wanting the others to notice, she sent them scattering in every direction, including into the sky. While she trusted the wolves to scout for them, they might not know about all the possible dangers.

  She fed the ravenous insects tiny pulses of energy, getting a glimpse of the surrounding world in return. Her influence was limited to only a few miles before they faded back to the afterworld, but each time she tested them, she discovered she could push them farther and farther.

  Edgar glanced over his shoulder at her with knowing eyes, but he didn’t scold her. Now that the phantoms knew about her, there was no point in keeping her abilities a secret. He slowed his pace until he was next to her.

  Though he appeared as unruffled as the others with the recent turn of events, she knew he still hadn’t regained his full strength. She suspected it had something to do with his refusal to visit the phantom realm to recharge. Not that she could blame him. She knew what it felt like to be trapped. It took more than a few months to get over being left to die.

  She reached over and laced her fingers between his, allowing the dust from the phantom world to lick at his skin. He sucked in a startled breath, his hands tightening on hers, and she watched his fathomless blue eyes darken until the gloom of the afterworld stared back at her.

  “You’re getting better at that.” He blinked away the darkness, the sharp angles of his face softening as he gazed at her.

  Annora reached up and stroked his brow. “And you worry too much.”

  Instead of answering, he helped her climb over a fallen log by swinging her over as if she weighed nothing. Before she even landed, he’d leapt over it in a single bound. He moved differently than the shifters—with the effortless self-awareness she associated with phantoms. It was like he knew and could control every atom of his body.

  Knowing him and his control freak tendencies, she wouldn’t be surprised if he could.

  She just wished it was one of the abilities she’d inherited.

  Instead, when the others weren’t looking, she ghosted herself through objects instead of using her limited athletic ability, saving her energy in case she needed it later. From the slightly reproving look Edgar cast her, he knew what she’d been doing.

  “What? You wanted me to practice.” She gave him an innocent shrug, avoiding the stubborn look to his jaw that said he wanted to argue. “I’m practicing.”

  As so often in the past few weeks, he gave a sigh and conceded to her without an argument. It was starting to piss her off. What happened to the grump who fought her every step of the way? The one who argued with her for the sake of arguing?

  She tightened her grip on his hand, dragging him to a stop, then placed her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “Now that we’re away from the campus and the others, maybe it’s time for you and the guys to tell me what the hell is really going on.”

  Chapter Two

  Edgar’s lips twitched as he gazed down at Annora, pretending it didn’t bother him that she pulled away. He clenched his hands, hating how empty they felt without her touch. “I’m surprised it took you so long to ask.”

  “I was giving you guys the benefit of the doubt, waiting for you to confess, but my patience can only be stretched so thin.” She scanned each of them, her reprimand encompassing all the guys. “It’s not safe to go any farther while keeping me in the dark. Tell me what you’ve decided.”

  The rest of the guys remained quiet under her glare, like deer caught in the headlights, leaving him to hang out to dry, the fuckers. He wasn’t about to go down for this alone. “The guys voted and decided it was best for you to concentrate on your training and not us. We’re a distraction, so we’re doing our best to keep you focused on your work.”

  Instead of blowing up, Annora gave an adorable snort, then full-out laughed until she staggered to remain upright. His eyes widened, and he glanced around at the rest of the guys to see they were just as baffled as him. Even Logan had changed back to human form, donning a pair of pants and a shirt before strolling out of the trees, completely oblivious to Prem weaving in and out between his feet, trying to trip him up.

  The kitsune was smiling, completely charmed by her laughter, and Edgar couldn’t blame the guy. Mason scratched the back of his head, a bemused, slightly uneasy smile on his face. The other two just studied her like she’d snapped or something.

  He knew better.

  She’d been through much worse without even blinking.

  No, this was something much more dangerous.

  She was plotting.

  Which would never end well for them.

  He stumbled back when she straightened abruptly.

  “Well, your way of doing things sucks.” She glared at each of them in turn. “Instead of punishing me, why not reward me instead?”

  Her dark eyes brightened with lust, sending heat licking up his body, and it took every ounce of his control to resist going to her and stealing a kiss. It was so hard to be near her, finally be able to touch her, and deny himself.

  Everything he’d ever wanted was within his grasp, and he was terrified it would all be taken from him.

  That she would be taken from him.

  He wouldn’t be able to survive without her.

  To keep Annora safe, the guys had decided they needed to make any decisions about her together. She’d only have to bat her eyelashes to get them to do anything she wanted.

  But together, they were stronger.

  When she turned her gaze toward him, he felt himself bending, all logic vanishing.

  Fuck the others.

  He couldn’t give up the chance to spend time with her.

  “What type of reward do you have in mind?” He caught a strand of her hair as it floated on the breeze, savoring the tangy smell of lemon and warm jasmine. The silken strands curled around his fingers, and he slowly tucked her hair behind her ear to keep from burying his hands in the silken mass and stealing a kiss, he was that desperate for another taste of her. He’d never met anyone like her, and he couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to call her his mate.

  He didn’t dare breathe while he waited for her response, lust short-circuiting his brain.

  Her smile was slow to form, and his cock hardened at the mischief dancing in her eyes. She trailed her fingers up his shirt, and he swallowed hard, afraid if he moved, he’d lunge for her.

  “How about this? For every task I complete, you guys will owe me a date.”

  He frowned at h
er in confusion for a second, then looked up to see the guys lined up behind her. At his silent question, they all nodded.

  He peered down at her, and warmth spread in his gut. “Deal.”

  Annora bit her lip against the urge to cheer and do a victory dance when every single one of the guys agreed without a fight.

  She would keep doing everything they said, pushing herself further and harder than they asked, jumping through hoops in order to complete their strict training regimen, knowing she’d need it if she wanted to keep them safe. Her father won’t go easy on her. While the guys were skilled, they weren’t phantoms.

  They could die, which was unacceptable.

  The sun blazed down on them in the small clearing, the slight breeze and the meager shade from the branches affording little relief.

  She gazed up at Edgar, his pale skin resisted the rays of the sun, his black hair seeming to almost absorb the light, his deep blue eyes fathomless as he studied her face. Everything about him was imposing—from his lean, athletic body to his long, straight nose, his full eyebrows, and his stubborn jaw. Though his mouth was hard, his lips were generous and begged her to steal a kiss.

  His face softened when he looked at her, pure joy and possessiveness shining from him, and her heart skipped a beat, imagining what they would do together when they were finally alone.

  Lured closer, she took a step, only to halt when Logan sauntered into view. He rubbed his hands together, his smile a little devious, mischief sparking in his eyes.

  Her heart lightened at seeing that playfulness again.

  It’d been too long.

  The red tips of his spiked hair blazed in the light, no longer limp and dull. His blue eyes sparkled with a snap of electricity, and he moved effortlessly, easily navigating the tangled undergrowth with his normal agility.

  She knew he was getting better, knew he was healing, but the distance between them was a physical ache. It took everything in her not to march over and run her hands over him to make sure he was all right.

  “How about a challenge?” Logan raised an eyebrow at her, daring her to come play.

  “What do you have in mind?” Annora tried to quash her smile, but knew she failed when the guys groaned.

  “How about a race to the top?” Logan turned and pointed up the steep peak. “Night comes early in the mountains. There’s a clearing about two miles ahead where we can camp for the evening.”

  Annora glanced at the guys, then peered up at Mason. “How far are we away from the troll encampment?”

  Mason narrowed his eyes and stared off in the distance. “Trolls consider the mountains their domain, so they no doubt know we’re on our way. We have at least one more day of hard hiking tomorrow before we reach them.”

  Annora gave him a bright smile and turned toward Camden. “So that gives us tonight to enjoy ourselves.”

  It wasn’t a question so much as a plea. Camden sighed, not even bothering to check with the other guys when he nodded, his lips twitching. “Very well.”

  Her smile bloomed.

  “But only after our lessons,” Willa interrupted before Annora could say anything. When she opened her mouth to protest, Willa held up her hand. “Think of it as giving the guys time to prepare for your date.”

  Annora snapped her mouth shut, excitement making her stomach tumble.

  An actual date.

  “I’ve never had a date before,” she confessed, suddenly nervous. “What if I do it wrong?”

  The guys stiffened, and embarrassment warmed her cheeks. Suddenly uncomfortable, she looked up at the clearing that seemed much too close now, wishing she had kept her mouth shut.

  Xander stepped into her space and cupped her face, blocking out everything but him. “Annora—”

  “My uncle took me to parties, showed me off, made me play hostess. People would study me like I was an object and not a person. He would try to woo me to make me more compliant, but when I didn’t bend to his will, he cut off the visits.” She gave him a crooked smile. “And I was glad. I hated every second of it, hated being the center of attention.”

  Xander leaned down until his forehead was pressed against hers, his sharp teal eyes piercing her soul. Though his hair was black, the ragged tips were bleached white. He was so close, his trimmed beard practically brushed against her lips. He was big and rugged, the perfect soldier. Everything about him was strong and unbending. Even his voice was gruff.

  But not with her.

  A sea breeze tickled her senses, and she’d swear she could feel his wings wrap around her like a cozy blanket.

  “Do I make you uncomfortable?”

  His voice was a low, sexy rumble that made her lick her lips, wanting a taste, and she shook her head. “No, of course not.”

  “That’s because you know you can trust me—trust us.” He lightly brushed his lips against hers. When she went up on her toes to chase the kiss, he pulled away. “We’re different. I guarantee that you’ll enjoy having our undivided attention.”

  Lust, dark and needy, hummed along her skin, and she shivered.

  “If you’re uncomfortable, all you have to do is tell us to stop.” When he strode away, she found herself taking a step after him.

  She blinked, becoming aware of her surroundings once more.

  Heat filled her cheeks, and she wasn’t sure if it was due more to embarrassment or desire. As she watched Xander’s ass flex while he walked away, her mouth watered, and she knew the truth—it was pure lust.

  Ever since their steamy episode in the bathroom, she couldn’t stop thinking about how he looked naked and what happened during their time together.

  Once was not enough.

  Thanks to her uncle, she never thought she’d be able to trust a man again.

  Xander proved her wrong.

  Now she wanted more.

  “What challenge?” Her question was husky when she turned toward Logan.

  His return smile was blinding. “The first one to the top of the mountain gets the date.”

  She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “What if I win?”

  “Then you get to decide which one of us you want first.” He gave her a flirty wink. “And go!”

  Without waiting, he shifted into his kitsune form, his fox quickly wiggling out of his clothes and taking off at a dead run.

  The rest of the guys swore. Xander and Mason took off running, moving so gracefully they were practically flying. Camden gave her a wink, dropped the packs on his back, and chased after the rest.

  The wolves smirked at their antics and collected the bags, hightailing it after them, unable to resist their beasts’ imperative to give chase.

  Annora gaped at Edgar.

  But he only shrugged and smiled. “See you at the top.”

  And he vanished.

  He cheated.

  The bastard.

  If she concentrated hard enough, she could make out his shadow racing up the steep incline. Instead of going around or jumping over the obstacles, he just ghosted right through them.

  Willa stopped beside her, giving her a considering look. Her blue hair was tied back, making her look young, almost innocent. Then she spoke. “If you want to win, you better get your ass moving.”

  Annora shaded her eyes and saw the guys were all using their abilities to cheat. Logan would dart out in front of the guys, tripping the up. Camden would brush against a few, slowing them down. Mason just smashed through the trees and vegetation, obliterating them, leaving behind the shrapnel for the guys to climb over like an obstacle course, while Xander used his physical training to body-check anyone who tried to pass him.

  Prem laid back his ears and took off after the guys, his form poofing in and out of existence. He barreled into the guys, who did their best not to trample him, and she chuckled.

  Her turn.

  Turnabout was fair play.

  Grabbing ahold of the darkness, she flung herself into the afterworld. The particles whirling inside her exploded outward, a
nd her form dissolved into smoke. The world around her went dark, the air almost murky. Small dark specks floated on the breeze like they were submerged deep underwater.

  In this world, she was weightless.

  Nothing could hurt her.

  And she took full advantage of her abilities.

  Instead of following the guys, knowing she’d never be able to win against them in a fair fight, she focused her attention on the small clearing they declared the winning circle.

  The darkness tugged at her insides, pulling her apart until she was nothing more than shadows…only to reform a second later. She stepped out of the darkness, gravity taking hold as her body went solid, and the world took shape around her.

  From the center of the winning circle.

  Just in time to lunge out of the way and barely avoid being plowed into by Xander, Mason, and Edgar as they battled for first place. Logan and Camden were only a second behind. Magic tugged at the air, white light shimmering around Logan, the scent of winter wrapping around her as he slowly took his human form.

  Completely naked.

  “You cheated!” He leaned over, panting.

  Annora crossed her arms and hiked up her chin, bracing against the inevitable reprimand for using her abilities. “How can I cheat if you didn’t set any rules?”

  Then she got distracted, her sole focus very much on Logan’s lack of clothing. She struggled to give him some privacy and keep her gaze above his waist, but she couldn’t stop gawking.

  He had his nipples pierced.

  “Like what you see?” He straightened and stretched, then wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  Only to have Mason step in front of him, completely blocking the fox with his bulky shoulders. “Put some clothes on. No one wants to see that shit.”

  I don’t mind.

  Annora bit her tongue to keep from saying it out loud.

  She must have done a piss-poor job of keeping her expression blank, because the guys just chuckled.

  Chapter Three