Ransomed to the World

by Stacey Brutger

  The ground shook, and Annora whirled—just in time to see a second troll charge out of the woods. She’d swear she heard stones shifting and rumbling beneath her feet, even as the bitch plowed right into her.

  Bones cracked. The air left her lungs in a rush. Her feet left the ground as her body went flying. She landed with a heavy thump, her body bouncing slightly, and she skidded a few feet away from the ledge.

  Instead of allowing the pain to drag her into the darkness, she welcomed it, using it to fuel her rage, and she smiled as she slowly rose to her feet.

  Annora took fierce satisfaction when the smaller troll, who stood well over six feet tall, looked like she’d been through a meat grinder. Instead of attacking her, the troll backed away, looking worried.

  “You should never have come to our mountain range.” The first troll spoke, her voice gravelly. She looked Annora up and down with a sneer, as if not being a troll made her less. “You think to take what is ours. I’m here to make sure you don’t even get a chance to try.”

  Without waiting for a response, she reached down, grabbed Xander by the back of his pants and threw him at her.

  Annora didn’t even bother to get out of the way. She called on the afterworld, and the dark particles slowed Xander down, but not enough to stop him.

  She grunted at the impact, falling backwards as her feet were swept out from under her once again…and they both went soaring over the ledge. As she tumbled through the sky, she made a desperate grab for Xander, knowing if she could get her hands on him, she could pull him into the afterworld and save them both, but the distance between them continued to widen.

  Wind tore at her hair and clothes, howling in her ears. Xander’s mouth was moving, but she couldn’t make out what he was trying to say. No doubt he was cursing her.

  Their gazes connected, and his teal eyes narrowed. He tucked his arms close to his sides, his body arrowing toward her. The air shimmered around him, and her jaw dropped when huge white wings unfurled from his back. She was so focused on his wings that she didn’t notice the rest of him changing until a large beast bore down on her.

  The humongous gryphon swooped below her, then rose up until she was sprawled awkwardly on his back. She shifted her legs so she was astride him, then wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Fur and feathers brushed against her. His great wings began to beat slowly, steadying them.

  They were no longer falling, but soaring through the sky.

  His great body was constantly moving and shifting under her, and she was in awe, unable to keep from caressing the fur at his shoulders. She felt the deep rumble from his barrel chest between her legs more than heard the sound, and when he turned his head slightly, his eagle eye surveying her, and she gave him a fierce smile.

  With a sharp cry of victory, Xander began to swoop and dive, the clawed tips of his feet skimming the treetops, showing off for her.

  And she loved every fucking second of it.

  As they soared higher and higher, the sun finally crested the mountaintops, and his tawny fur appeared to glow, his wings glinting like diamonds catching the light.

  He was magnificent.

  It wasn’t long before she felt the connection with the other guys burn, worry and fear bleeding through the joy, and bringing her back down to the reality that someone had just tried to kill them.

  Chapter Six

  Xander coasted past the overlook so the guys could see that Annora was okay, then kept going a few hundred yards beyond them to a small clearing he spotted earlier with just enough space for him to land. He angled his wings, glided over the land, his clawed feet hitting the ground running until he slowed them to a jog.

  He circled to cool down, his chest billowing, steam puffing in the air around him. When he came to a stop, it was a struggle to stay still while Annora dismounted. He wanted her to stay, wanted to take off again to keep her safe and nearly sidestepped to keep her from leaving.

  He loved having her on his back, loved that she shared his joy of the open skies. He’d worried he would scare her with his form, but he only felt her awe and excitement through their connection.

  When Annora stood on shaky legs, he tucked his wings in close and watched her carefully. She’d been hurt, but she was so used to pain that he couldn’t tell it by the way she moved. He carefully sidestepped closer to her, keeping his head lowered in case she got skittish.

  He shouldn’t have been worried. The moment he was close enough, she reached out and sank her fingers into the fur on his shoulders, running her hands along the feathers on his neck, and he couldn’t stop from ruffling his wings, his beast preening under her attention.

  When she edged back, he took a deep breath and willed the change.

  Magic snapped along his flesh, his beast pawing at the earth in protest before finally submitting. He felt his animal recede back into his body, and his human form surged forward. When he lifted his head again, he was crouched in front of Annora, one hand on the ground, watching her carefully.

  When he rose to his full height, he should’ve known better than to expect her to cower. Instead, she threw herself at him, and he sighed with relief and caught her close. Her lemon and jasmine scent soothed his beast, and the creature finally ceased fighting him for control.

  Xander leaned back, then reached down to tip her head up. “What the fuck were you thinking?!”

  Fury burned through him at the risk she took.

  Ignoring her protest, he ran his hands along her body, noting the injuries that would cripple a normal person.

  She didn’t even fucking flinch.

  “Heal.” His demand was gruff, brooking no argument. Seeing her hurt when he was unable to prevent it was driving him insane. He couldn’t think logically when she was injured.

  She pursed her lips and leaned back, a cute little furrow between her brows as she surveyed him. Then she thrust out her arm at him. “Together.”

  His breath hitched, and he placed his hand trustingly in hers.

  Not that he felt a hint of fear.

  It was the opposite.

  He was fucking addicted to her.

  The last time she manipulated the afterworld that way, he’d become intoxicated, drunk on her.

  The moment their hands connected, tiny particles kicked up in the air. Dark smoke snaked along her skin and up his arms, then slithered under his skin. His wounds stitched back together, but he didn’t feel any of the usual pain.

  He only felt her.

  His cocked hardened, and he bit back a groan at the torture of having her so close. It took everything in him to hold back from taking what he wanted. He watched the bruises on her body fade, watched the way her pale skin seemed to glow with vitality, then his control snapped, and he hauled her against him and kissed the ever-loving shit out of her.

  He thrust his tongue in her mouth, craving the taste of her. He tried to resist, tried to hold back, but his beast was having none of it. Instead of retreating, she gave as good as she got. When she sucked on his tongue, he nearly came in his pants.

  It was only when he felt her unbutton his jeans and lower his zipper that he lifted his head, all his blood running south. “Annora.”

  It was a warning and a plea.

  He lifted his hands to stop her, knowing the guys would be searching for them, but when her small hand clamped around his cock, he was lost. He tore at her pants, not even waiting for her to take them off before he shoved his fingers into her, unable to stop his moan when he found her already wet.

  When he pulled his hand away, she whimpered in protest. Ignoring the way she clawed at him, he yanked her pants off and looped his arms behind her knees. She gave a squeak of surprise as he shoved her back against a tree and thrust into her.

  Gods, but she was tight.

  Made just for him.

  Her nails bit into his shoulders, drawing blood, and he growled, pulled out, and thrust back into her harder, locking his knees when pleasure threatened to drown him.

  Sh
e whimpered, her body moving against his, begging for more.

  And he couldn’t deny her.

  Thrust after thrust sent them both soaring higher. Needing to feel her pleasure, he ducked his head and took her lips, then reached between them. The instant he touched her core, she bucked hard, her scream swallowed by his kiss as her orgasm rippled between them.

  It triggered his own, dragging him into oblivion.

  By the time he was able to lift his head, they were both dazed and panting. He gently lowered her to the ground, already wanting her again, but he knew they didn’t have time. He steadied her when her legs wobbled, repressing a smile of pure pride that he could affect her so, and helped put her clothes back in order.

  Lust still simmered in his veins, but it was banked for now.

  Enough that he wouldn’t allow her to distract him again. He crossed his arms as he stared down at the petite girl who held his whole world in her hands. His insides went cold at how close he came to losing everything.

  “What the hell were you thinking?”

  Annora stiffened at the arctic tone of Xander’s voice. She lifted her chin, her own anger coming to the fore. “I could ask you the same thing. Did you honestly believe you’d be able to take two trolls on your own? You should’ve called for help. You should’ve—”

  “And they would’ve found you before I had a chance to warn anyone about the trouble!” Xander roared, running his fingers through his hair. “You were already on your way. I couldn’t risk that they would find you.”

  Annora pursed her lips, unable to fault him for his logic…because he wasn’t wrong.

  She would’ve done the same in his place, and some of the steam went out of her anger. She rubbed her fingers against her brow, trying to ease the looming headache. Wolves yipped and howled in the distance, and she knew their time was limited. “I guess we now know they never had any intention of handing Mason over without a fight.”

  Dark wisps of the afterworld rose and wove between her fingers at the thought of the coming battle.

  If they thought she’d give up, they were fools.

  She gave a vicious smile. If anything, she was even more eager to level the playing field.

  Their conversation was cut short when the rest of the guys blundered into the small clearing. Mason reached her first, plucking her off her feet to crush her to his chest. Annora didn’t fight him, taking advantage of the situation to snuggle closer.

  He had partially shifted, standing practically a foot taller, his horns and teeth more pronounced, his hair standing completely upright, his muscles making him nearly twice his usual size.

  The rest of the guys were grim as Xander explained what happened.

  Only when Mason had confirmed for himself that she was unharmed did he finally lower her to the ground. Edgar and Camden didn’t take their gaze off her the whole time. Neither appeared outwardly disturbed, no anger showed on their faces, but she knew better.

  The afterworld clouded Edgar’s eyes until nothing but darkness remained. Tension held him stiff, like he was holding himself back from dragging her into the afterworld he feared so much just to keep her safe. Camden was more contained, but barely, his beast ready to burst out of his skin. Tiny patterns were imprinted across his arms and up his neck, spikes slowly extended from his elbows, but what gave him away more was the way his dark hair turned almost iridescent.

  Thankfully, both of them were able to hold themselves in check.

  Logan was different, hanging back, his arms crossed. The bitter chill of winter clung to him in his agitation, like he blamed himself for not being there to protect her.

  Which was foolish.

  It had only been a few weeks since he nearly died. Though he was recovering, it would take time. While his body might be healed, the torture he endured had scarred his soul, and he still had nightmares that only her nearness could calm.

  She was afraid today might have set him back.

  Shadows darkened his eyes, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he barely held himself in check. She walked to his side, then slipped her hand in his.

  And his breath left him in a rush, his shoulders deflating, his grip just short of brutal.

  Even with a few inches separating them, she could still hear his pulse thundering in his veins.

  When she opened her mouth, he silenced her with a quick shake of his head. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine,” he amended quickly, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze, and she believed him.

  As the guys continued to talk among themselves, the wolves circled them, standing guard.

  When she squinted, she could’ve sworn she saw Prem riding on the back of one of them like he was in a damned rodeo. But when she blinked, the image was gone, and she wondered if she imagined the whole thing.

  Camden approached, distracting her from the wolves. Even before he spoke, she knew what he was going to say.

  “Annora—”

  “We’re not leaving.” She wouldn’t give the trolls the satisfaction. She wouldn’t give them a chance to refute her claim, and object to her taking Mason as her mate.

  Camden put on his most reasonable expression, but she held up her hand to halt him. “If I told you I wanted to you stay back while I confront my father—”

  “Not happening.” There was no inflection in his voice. The rest of the guys went rigid behind him, their attention snapping toward her.

  “I rest my case. You can’t ask me to do less for any of you.” She squared her shoulders, refusing to back down. This battle was too important to lose. “With or without you, I’m going.”

  When no one objected, she released a breath, the tension releasing its talons from her spine.

  “If we want to reach them before nightfall, then we should get moving.” Mason didn’t look happy at her proclamation. If anything, he was downright pissed. Without looking at her, he stormed back toward camp, moving so fast, he disappeared in seconds.

  When she moved to follow him, Logan tightened his hold on her hand. “Give him time.”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder, and he leaned forward, gently rubbing a finger across the furrows between her brows, as if to brush away her worries. “He doesn’t like that you’re in danger because of him.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I—”

  “And he needs to work that out for himself.” The rest of the guys headed back toward camp, keeping them in sight, but giving them as much privacy as they could. Logan fiddled with her fingers, not meeting her gaze. “I’m not sure if you know what it’s like for a guy to see his mate in danger. Our primal instincts take over. While we might know you can take care of yourself, it’s another thing to curb our impulse to protect.”

  Annora wanted to roll her eyes. “Do you think it’s any different for a girl?”

  Logan gaped at her, his mouth parting slightly. “I…that’s…you…” He huffed under his breath. “It isn’t the same.”

  She snorted at the absurdity.

  “Maybe?” He no longer looked so certain. He studied her out of the corner of his eye, then shook his head. “Since you’re our pack grá, it’s possible the same instinct could be riding you too.”

  When they arrived back at the camp, the whole area had been broken down. The supplies were put away, the fire put out, the place wiped clean, leaving few signs that they had ever been there. Stepping into the clearing was like a signal, and everyone leaned down and retrieved their bags.

  They were on the trail in under five minutes.

  Logan lingered at her side, watching her more than the trail, and she didn’t have the heart to scold him. “Tell me more about this pack grá idea of yours. Somehow, I have a feeling that you guys haven’t told me everything.”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “To be honest, we’ve been a little busy with other things.”

  She hummed and nodded, conceding the point to him. He jumped over a fallen tree that blocked the path, then reached back, grabbed her around the waist, and swung her over it. She
fell against his chest, and his breathing seemed to stop, his gaze dropping to her mouth.

  “You can kiss me if you want,” she whispered.

  He’d kept his distance from her ever since his return, and she worried he blamed her for the terrible things that were done to him.

  Not that she could fault him.

  Because he would be right.

  “Hey…stop that.” He cupped her chin, lifting her face up to his. “I want nothing more than to kiss you.” He tunneled his fingers into her hair, holding her still, his lips a hair’s breadth from her own. “I just want our first time together to be perfect.”

  Up close, she could see his eyes were dilated, his grip almost rough, a tremor going through him.

  He was…nervous?

  Of her?

  She grabbed his wrists, then pulled his arms down, trapping his hands between them.

  “Sit.” She gave him a little push, and he plopped down on the log they just crawled over. He looked up at her with lust darkening his wide blue eyes, only a slight trepidation remaining, and he gripped his knees to keep from reaching for her.

  She began to pace back and forth, her breathing ragged from agitation. The guys remained in sight, but turned their backs to give them privacy.

  “Annora…” Logan reached out and snagged her arm as she passed, pulling her to a stop.

  He looked hesitant, almost afraid, as he gazed up at her, and she clutched at him, panic threatening to claw up her insides. “I know I’m pushing you. I don’t give a shit about the sex, but I can feel you pulling away, and I can’t stand the idea of not having you in my life.”

  His grip on her hand tightened almost painfully, and she covered his mouth with her palm when he tried to speak, panic quickening her pulse. “My uncle nearly destroyed you—nearly killed you—and I don’t know how to make things better between us.”

  Logan stood slowly until he loomed over her, his eyes so bright they nearly sparkled. He kissed her palm, then peeled her hand off his mouth and pressed it to his chest, where she could feel his heart beat erratically. “You will never lose me. It’s impossible, since you are in here.”