SWNOVELS Alluring Darkness: Chapter 41
My heart is pounding so loudly in my ears that I’m surprise the entire forest doesn’t hear it too. Keeping my head down, I try my best to stay silent while I follow the Hunters as we make our way deeper into the woods.
They move like fucking wraiths through the trees. I didn’t think it was possible for people like them to move as quietly as they are. Not only are they all tall and muscular, they also normally exude this enormous presence that can be felt from miles away. But right now, they slink across the forest floor like ghosts. Making no noise and leaving no trace.
I frantically scan the ground while I hurry after them, checking so that I’m not about to step on a twig that will give away our location.
Fuck, why did they have to drag me into this? I would’ve much preferred to stay in the chemistry lab, mixing some delicious poisons instead. Or even at their house, going through all of their drawers while they were occupied.
Though I have to admit that I did like the way Eli said you’re mine earlier. I might even let him get away with forcing me into this annoying tournament just because he said that.
Eli stops and holds up his hand. He does it so abruptly that I almost crash into him. His brothers, however, come to a halt swiftly and efficiently. Drawing my eyebrows down, I scowl at him as he twists his head towards us.
He makes a few hand gestures and points up ahead and to the left. Rico, Kaden, and Jace all nod as if those flicks of his fingers made perfect sense. My frown only deepens.
Then a twig snaps close by.
It takes everything in me not to start at the unexpected sound. While remaining perfectly still, I squint in the direction of the noise.
Understanding floods my mind.
Oh, so that was what Eli was saying.
Another team moves through the trees a short distance from us. Two women and three men, all with athletic bodies and careful gaits, sneak across the forest floor, but none of them appear to have spotted us yet.
Eli flashes more hand signals to his brothers, who yet again nod. Then he slides his gaze back to me. Holding up his palm, he gives me a very simple gesture.
Stay.
A hint of embarrassment flickers through my chest because I know that I am practically useless in this damn tournament. Actually, I’m worse than useless. I’m a liability. If I were to follow Eli and his brothers to ambush that other group, I would no doubt mess it up so that the entire attack fails. It makes a cold weight settle in my stomach, but I try to ignore it as I nod in acknowledgement.
For a few seconds, Eli only watches me with perceptive eyes. It looks like he wants to say something else, but then he simply nods back. Turning to his brothers, he spins a hand in the air.
Move out.
They all split up and sneak away between the trees.
I remain where I am, not moving a muscle in case that would somehow make noise, and watch as they disappear. Even though I know what I’m looking at, and where I’m supposed to be looking to see them, I still find it hard to spot them after a while.
Damn, they really are good at this.
The other group continues moving slightly diagonally from where I’m standing. I’ve lost sight of Kaden and Rico, who I assume are approaching from the other side, but I can just barely spot Eli and Jace between the trees if I strain my eyes hard.
A gentle breeze rustles the leaves above our heads. I glance up at it. The canopy this deep into the forest is so thick that barely any light makes it through. And the sky today is already gray and overcast, which makes the entire forest feel dark and gloomy. It’s still warm, though. Or maybe that’s just me after the fast pace we’ve kept through the woods. Beads of sweat trickle down my spine and temples, and I have to resist the urge to wipe them away lest I make any accidental noise.
Standing perfectly still, I watch the Hunters draw closer to their prey.
Then they stop.
For a few seconds, nothing happens.
I squint, trying to figure out what they’re doing.
The other team still hasn’t spotted them. They just continue moving in formation with sure steps.
More seconds pass.
I resist the urge to hold my breath.
They move.
As if on some hidden signal, all four Hunters step out of their hiding places at the exact same time. The other team doesn’t even have time to whirl around before it’s too late. A cry of alarm rips from one of the guys as the five of them find themselves with a gun to the back of the head. Or rather, four of them do. The fifth has a knife across the throat from behind.
My heart pounds in my chest, and a throbbing starts at my core, as I stare at the scene before me, completely transfixed.
“Tough luck,” Jace says, a mocking note to his voice as he pushes the muzzle harder into the back of his captive’s skull. “Hands.”
The guy immediately raises his hands. As does the woman who Rico is holding a gun to. The man with the blade across his throat growls something underneath his breath, which just makes Kaden force the knife higher up under his chin, tilting his head back and exposing his throat. Only then does he reluctantly raise his hands.
I watch Eli.
Since I’m standing here completely useless, there are only four of them to the five on the opposing team. But Eli solved that by pulling two guns on the remaining couple. With one gun in each hand, he presses them against the back of their heads while he stares them down from behind. Both of them raise their hands.
Heat floods my cheeks and my pussy throbs. Fuck, he’s hot when he’s armed and in control.
“Kaden,” Eli says.
His brother clicks his tongue and then begins walking his captive over to Rico. The guy exchanges a look with Rico’s prisoner, but she shakes her head at him as if telling him not to fight.
Rico pulls out another gun and levels it at the guy’s forehead. Once it’s in place, Kaden removes his blade.
I watch with complete interest as Kaden then pulls rope from his pack and starts tying everyone up while the others keep their guns pointed at them. Kaden works swiftly and efficiently. One person at each tree.
They discreetly test the strength of the knots when they think no one is looking, but the ropes don’t give an inch. Kaden is skilled at that. Which I know from personal experience.
When two of the five are secure, I finally release a long breath. Eli technically told me to wait, but there is no need for me to keep out of sight any longer. They already have their captives at gunpoint, so there is nothing for me to screw up.
Rolling my shoulders back, I take a step forward.
A hand is slapped across my mouth from behind.
I try to cry out, but any sound is muffled by the leather glove pressing against my mouth and holding it firmly closed.
Panic pulses through my body as a strong arm is wrapped around my middle and I’m hoisted up. I kick my legs in the air but there is nothing I can do to stop it as the unknown attacker hauls me away.