Wild and Out of Control

|chapter thirty-eight|

|xaden|

The place where Danica leads me is dark and misty, which is to be expected when we're hundreds of feet below the walls of Basgiath and near a water canal.

     I don't like the feel of this place and have no idea why Danica was down here in the first place. It doesn't make sense. Sure, she's one for an adventure—walking deep into the forest where she called for me to come find her because she got lost—but this isn't something she'd usually explore. Unless...

     She didn't come here on her own but instead was taken here, which would explain the blood on the ground in the courtyard where she stood. That only makes my fists clench as I think of someone hurting and kidnapping Danica, even if it was only for a few hours. She seems fine now, though last night was a different story. I still remember the vulnerable look in her eyes and the paleness of her skin. Whatever happened last night disturbed her.

     The gravel beneath my boots crunches as we near the wall of stone at the base that holds Basgiath War College. I've never been down here, and based on the overgrown bushes and shrubs, this place isn't frequented by others either. I squint my eyes and see what looks to be a window carved into the side of the wall.

     What the hell?

     I tug on Danica's hand to halt a few meters away from the window. "What is this?" I scan the surrounding areas to ensure there are no threats before sending in some shadows through the crack of the window.

     "This is the place I was last night." She shivers as if she's remembering it.

     I tense as my shadows make out a figure in the small closet-like room with low lighting and dirty floors. The figure—a short man with dirty clothes—sits at a desk as he fiddles with something. The rest of the room is dark and messy, which gives perfect cover for my shadows.

     "It's got to be perfect," my shadows pick up the man's words. "She can't escape this time. I will have her at last."

     Every muscle in my body tenses as anger rises in me. The protective beast that has been begging to be unchained since last night resurfaces. Protect, protect, protect, it screams in my mind. "Let's go." I pull Danica away from heading toward the man who's planning on kidnapping her again. After I bring Danica back to the safety of her room with Liam outside it, I'll deal with him personally.

     "What? Why?" Danica tries to pull away, but I don't let her go. No way in fuck am I letting her near that place again. "What's wrong, Xaden?" She's dragging her feet, still trying to pull back. Tugging her arm forward, I lean down and throw her on my shoulder. She squeals as her stomach meets my shoulder. "Xaden! What are you doing?"

     She squirms at first, trying to get in a more comfortable position before her body goes limp and she just goes with it. Her hands trace up and down my back, starting from mid back down to just above my ass. Each time her hands pass sends a shiver down my spine.

     I pick my pace up, making it back to the forest in no time. I squeeze the backs of her thighs before setting her on her feet again. "It's getting dark, we should get you to bed. And before you say it, no, I'm not going to fight on this."

     "What was it? Was it the man in there?" Her lips thin as her eyes haze over. "Alright, fine. Only because I want to forget that it happened." She holds up a hand when my jaw tightens. "No, it's not because it scarred me, but because I have no idea what the hell it was and like to ignore it. So, this is the first time in my life that I'm saying this, but could you take care of that for me? I don't feel like doing it."