After this, I was going to have to find out what their deal was. But right now, I had to try to find the shifters. I refused to fail in one more thing. And in order to succeed, I needed all the intel I could get.
“Aman, why would my father want so many shifters?”
“Mass production, Princess.”
“Rafe.”
I turned in time to see Jon send Rafe a scathing look, while Rafe smiled.
“What do you mean, mass production?”
Rafe walked forward, elbowing Jon out of the way. “Where do you think those shots come from? Shifters get old, Princess. Just like the rest of us. And those scientists of yours always needed new test subjects...” He left the rest hanging, letting me fill in the blanks.
And it was easy enough to do.
The lies and horror mounted, and I had no one to blame… except maybe myself for being stupid and my uncle for being depraved enough to go along with his father.
Everyone else was dead.
Which gave me an idea.
“Rafe, if they needed shifters for the shots… what else could have been happening to them?”
He smiled harshly. “Now that, Princess, is a good question. Shall we see?”
He extended his hand out in front of him, indicating a fork in the trail.
My father had always forbidden me to come down here, but of course I had defied him. My friends from the village and I had run around in here. The last time I was down here, we had taken the right turn, which led to the waterfall that emptied into the ocean. That day I had gotten soaked, then the strap of a belt, for ruining my new dress.
The men behind me waited, and with nerves jittery and stomach sick, I chose the side that for some reason scared me as a child.
Now I knew why.
“What a great deduction. Unlike last time.”
Last time? What did he mean?
The farther we walked, the darker it grew, and I closed my eyes bringing forth one of my lesser known talents. Claius wasn’t the only one with eerie glowing eyes.
It was slightly brighter now, and I used the shots to my advantage but shivered as the bugs crawled along the wall near me.
My nose twitched at the smell of mold and stagnant water. If it was this bad for me, what was it like for Claius?
Just thinking of him seemed to summon him. His hand grazed my back. “Are you okay?”
His low whisper sent a shiver down my spine that no cold could achieve.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
His hand drifted up my back as I continued to walk, then trailed down my arm until our fingers skim over one another.
“I’ve smelled a lot worse than this before. I think I can handle some water and mold.”
I smiled, and was about to reply when the trail curved and we arrived at our destination.
Worn and broken, the door had seen better days. Almost as if it had been forgotten. Maybe it had.
Claius, as if sensing my unease, stepped forward with a smile. His teeth had slightly elongated. I guess I wasn’t the only one who’d been put on edge by the door.
With a twist of his hand, the door creaked and the small tunnel flooded with light.
In two steps I stood within the archway of the door and my eyes widened at what was before me.
Cages. So many cages.
The men behind me fell silent. Whatever they had been arguing about seemed miniscule compared to what was in front of us.
Rows of cages lined the cavernous rock walls of what could only be a laboratory. The smell of stagnant water filled the air. Trying not to breathe too deep, I took in the picture before me. People who I was sure now were shifters sat in the small, cramped cages. Some were much too big for the space but were somehow forced to fit. Most were malnourished.
I tried to figure out how they were still alive.
But I knew.
The shots.
Extra speed. Extra strength.
All the dots were slowly connecting.
This is how the humans who’d been given the shots were able to survive traumatic circumstances. By being made to be more like the shifters.
They were different, special, and this was the only reason they had survived. And I detested thinking my father had a hand in any of this.
But he did. They all did. And I was too blind to realize. Did my mother or sisters know? Or were they like me? A victim of something far bigger than themselves?
The mildew that had formed over the rocks, and rust—at least I hoped it was rust—spread over the cages spoke of years of neglect. Jaded eyes turned toward me and I loathed that I still stood shocked at the doorway. The ramifications of what my father, uncle, and possibly grandfather did would have to be dealt with later. Right now, all that mattered was freeing the people who I believed existed all along.
Shifters.
Claius, Rafe, Jon, and Aman stood behind me, silent, waiting for my command.
I couldn't look at them. Disgust would be evident on their faces—and who could blame them? It was on mine, but I had to focus on the task at hand and not on their feelings.
I removed my battle axe from the scabbard that hung from my side. We were getting these people out.
Determined, I stuffed my feelings to the back of my mind until I had time to fall apart at my family’s part in this brutality. I would say a prayer for all the families my own had wronged. “Each of you take a cage. We’re not leaving until we free them.”
My men scattered—even Rafe—at my words, each taking a cage.
Except Claius.
I felt Claius’ heat behind me. Ever since our talk in the woods, he was never far from me. And even now, with my nerves frayed and heart pumping from the adrenaline, he was a comfort I needed right now.
Given the horrors before us, maybe he needed to be just as close to me.
Neither of us spoke. Being close seemed to be enough, and we worked side by side.
The first cage we came upon housed a little girl. She cowered in the corner, her eyes reflecting in the dim light, like a cat’s.
Like Claius.
She was about nine, and reminded me of my sister Margery. I desperately ached to take her in my arms and ease the terror in her eyes. I couldn’t save my sisters, but I could at least try to save this girl.
With anger at myself, and my father, I swung my axe with everything I had. Sparks flew as it connected with the metal lock. The mechanical gears that kept the little girl from freedom shifted with each stroke of my axe. With one last pump, the lock fell, and I paused as she whimpered and backed up further.
She was scared of me. No, not of me—of what I represented.
“Here, let me, Robin.”
Claius, who had been quiet while I tore through steel, now stepped forward and crouched down in front of the cage.
Terrified as she was, the child looked through her tangle of filthy hair at the giant that was Claius.
“Hi, I’m Claius. And this is Robin. We’re here to help you.”
The tenseness in the girl’s shoulders dropped slightly, and I looked around to see how everyone else was doing.
It seemed Aman and Rafe were dealing with other children that had the same issue.
What had my father put them through?
I spotted Jon at the door herding them together, ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. His face serious, he took stock of everyone and everything around. This was the man who at such a young age had started a forest sanctuary out of nothing. Maybe after this was over, I could get to know more of that man.
Looking back at Claius, I saw he had moved forward, and the girl had uncurled herself.
“What’s your name, sweetie?” he asked gently.
The girl moved forward. “Anna.”
Her voice was hoarse, whether from crying or whatever they had done to her, I didn’t know. Again, I ached to take her in my arms and make her better, but if I pushed, we would be right back where we started.
“Anna. What
a pretty name. Well, how about you come with us and get away from here. Would you like that?”
She looked between the two of us, then at the other children Rafe and Aman had now released from their cages. “We’re all going to go away from here?”
The hope in her voice and the simple question were heart-rending.
I heard the smile in Claius’ voice when he answered. “Yes, Anna, away from here.” He held out his hand. “Are you ready?”
I held my breath, waiting for her to decide if she could chance taking that lifeline.
When her small hand moved into his much larger one, the breath that I had been holding deep in my chest swooshed out of me and tears filled my eyes.
We were doing it!
Claius picked up Anna.
When I turned, I noticed children in the other men’s arms as well. I hadn’t really thought of children being here, or considered numbers. It looked to be close to fifty people, a much larger group than what I had thought. A group that would potentially give us away.
A group that could potentially get us killed.
With that stark observation and the desperation on the people’s faces, I came to a conclusion I didn't really want to come to. “We have to go now.”
This many people were going to take us longer to get through the open field.
At my words, everyone stared at me.
But I was looking at Aman. He’d doubtless been searching for his wife. And it seemed she wasn’t here.
He glanced at the small child of maybe two in his arms and then back at me, smiling sadly. “I know, and it’s okay.”
The side of his lip quirked up as an errant thought seem to fly through his brain. “That just means we can come back to find and rescue the others, and get to kick some soldier ass.”
I laughed softly, then stopped when I heard a small ringing in my ear.
Everyone else turned to the door. They heard it too.
The alarm for the soldiers to let them know that someone was here.
And that was when it hit me.
We weren’t going to make it.
23
Rafe
* * *
“They know we’re here.” Robin’s words grabbed everyone's attention.
Even though Aman had told her he was fine leaving and coming back, he really wasn't.
No man would be. Not without at least having some answers.
It was how I felt when I knew rescuing the women wouldn’t happen.
It seemed me and Aman would both have to leave with unanswered questions. The thought burned in my stomach. And I think Robin knew it.
Now, as the ringing in my ears grew louder, it cemented everything Robin had said and what Ava had told Jon.
“We need to leave now.”
My head jerked toward Claius, who had gone behind Robin and placed his hand on her shoulder.
I had always thought it was Robin and Jon, but the more I was around them, it seemed like it was really Robin and Claius.
And for some reason I didn't want to think about, it bothered me.
Robin put her hand on top of Claius’ and I glanced at Jon to see his reaction. He seemed to like it even less than I did. At least that made me feel a little better.
“You're right,” Robin said before dropping her hand. She turned and glanced at everyone before nodding and coming to some conclusion. “Grab the children.”
She paused and looked at the weakened shifters, gnawing on her lip.
As much as I bounced words at her, I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes now. There was a reason I liked to stay on the sidelines, not drawing attention to myself. Because when you did, usually people expected things from you. Things you couldn’t deliver.
Decision made her shoulders seemed to straighten as a plan started to come together. “We need to move and move fast. I’ll try to stop the soldiers, but I need you all to keep up.”
Something seemed to war within her and I knew what she was about to ask. And, judging by the look on her face, she didn't want to.
So, I did the one thing I thought I could do to help her. I asked the hard question. “Can everyone keep up? We need to know now, because if you fall back, we won’t be able to help you.”
I scanned the shifters. Some of their gazes had turned hostile. So, I raised my voice. The last thing we needed was for someone to go rogue. “Is that understood?”
Everyone turned toward me, some looking at me with anger, and others with fear.
But the question had to be asked, and if they wanted me to be the bad guy, if Robin needed me to be the bad guy, then so be it.
Cheeks red, she stared me down, but when Claius bent and whispered in her ear, she relaxed.
What had he said that made her so easily change her mind?
Straightening her small, narrow shoulders, she marched to the door. “Follow me and try not to get killed.”
Wordlessly, everyone followed our fearless leader out the door and into the wide open where we were open to an attack. I couldn't help but think we were not going to make it.
24
Smite
* * *
Arms slung over the twins, my feet dragged against the floor as they carried me. Despite all the times I had been to take girls to Robin, I had never seen these men before.
Of course, I hadn't been allowed to see hardly anyone, per Jon’s rules.
The walls of the castle all looked the same through my slitted eyes as we traveled as fast as two men carrying one could. Which was pretty fast, given how massive they were. Besides Jon, and that one man who was with Robin the last time I had seen her, I had never seen anyone quite as big or tall.
Even though I was smaller, I could at least say I was fast. At least when I wasn’t injured.
“Where did you say we were meeting up with Robin?” The words came out muffled and I cursed my stupid body.
James turned to look at me. “She said to meet where we came in.”
At an intersection, he tilted his head up as if to smell the air, then nodded to himself before continuing to navigate through the castle.
I knew where the dungeon was but, eyes swollen and dizzy just from lifting my head, I was in no condition to find any place right now. “And where is this place of entry?”
One of the twins answered, “The south entrance near the forest. Robin had it timed perfectly.”
Then the other twin spoke. “Though we did almost have to leave because of Jon.”
I tried to pull my head up further to look at the one who had spoken about Jon, but things started to spin, turning my stomach. “Jon came?”
The burly twins laughed, and one said, “Oh, yeah. He made Robin think he wasn't, and then at the last second turned up. Though his news was less than good.”
The other continued, “He came running like the devil was on his ass.”
The brothers exchanged a glance and the first one said, “He must really love her.”
At the mention of Jon and his love for Robin, my stomach twisted harder. How could I forget they were together and I never had a chance?
Especially after what Marian did to me… no one would want me.
Against my will, my mind meandered onto a dark path, until pain stabbed me behind my eyes. A ringing that began in my ears traveled up my head and silenced the pitying thoughts.
“Does anyone else hear that?” James whispered.
The three began to pick up speed. No one answered because, since we’d all had those shots, we all heard it.
The last time I had heard it was the day Robin had escaped from the prison. Which could only mean one thing.
We had to hurry.
Because it looked like we were not going to make it.
25
Robin
* * *
The older shifters started to lag just a few steps into our journey. If we could just make it out of the tunnels and into the forest, we would be safe.
They would be safe.
The twi
ns and James were nowhere to be seen and I tried to push the worry for them out of my mind. The last thing these people needed was my attention diverted somewhere else.
If they’d gotten Smite, which I hoped they had, then hopefully they knew what that sound meant.
Smite would know but, depending on what state he was in, maybe he wouldn’t be able to tell.
I hurried along beside Aman, who I could barely look at. He had brought people to me in confidence, thinking I could help find his wife. Help with the girls. And I wasn’t able to do either. Which meant, not only had I failed Aman, I had failed Rafe as well.
Jon slightly behind me, his jaw tight as we stayed in the shadows. I glanced back at Rafe and Claius taking up the rear, watching out for the small children.
Who would’ve thought Rafe cared so much about children?
Not me.
“Shhh.” Jon stopped abruptly, holding up his hand.
I’d been so deep in thought, I hadn’t heard a thing. I needed to get in the game.
Listening now, I heard the crunch of rocks against boots. The soldiers were close by. Time was running out.
“Aman, Rafe, take the shifters to where we entered the castle. I’m going to try to hold them off.”
Rafe’s brow furrowed and Aman went to open his mouth, but I cut in softly, “Take them. I can’t fight if I’m worried about them. If you see the twins and Smite, send the twins to me. Now go.”
Aman nodded, while Rafe was already directing the older ones to the side.
Looking at Claius and Jon, I murmured, “I can probably handle this myself. Jon isn’t really a fighter and he could need help.”
Claius growled, reminding me exactly what he was, while Jon smiled the charming smile that never failed to pull me in. “Well now, I can admit I’m more of lover than a fighter, but Claius…”
Claius’ hand landed gently on my shoulder, pulling my attention to him. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but with you.” His dark eyes swam with sincerity and, as much as I loved battle, I couldn’t wait for it to be done, so we could have our time to ourselves.
The Vengeful Robin Page 15