Ella's POVLiam snorted. "More like I've been having a nightmare while on my feet. It was a relief when I walked into Andre.""Shall we continue our journey now that we are all together?" Kevin asked, bringing out the map."Let's do that." Damien agreed. "I can't wait to put this whole nightmare behind us." He said with a glance at me.I nodded at him, fully understanding what he meant. We were all here because of my nightmare and I couldn't wait to put it behind me as well."Here!" Kevin said and pointed to a path down the road.I sighed. It was high time we found the path to the tree and get the damn slave mark off my skin. It had been long that I had glanced at my wrist because I didn't want to be disgusted by the sight of my body which was what happened whenever I looked at my wrist, accidentally or intentionally.We had been walking for a long time ever since we got reunited because we didn't want to stay here for any moment longer. My legs were aching and I knew the guys were as
Ella's POVWe did it. We all cheered, slapping one another on the back as we climbed down the final tree where the snakes couldn't get to us and walked to the Arok tree.I glanced back at the spot where the snakes were and felt like flipping them all the bird. They had thought they could stop us but we were smarter than they were.I placed my hand on my chest, forcing my heart rate to calm down. I had thought I would die there being on top of trees. It hadn't been easy climbing and not look down. It was as if the snakes knew that there was food above them and were uncurling and creating space in their midst like they were eager to have us slip our legs on the trees and drop into their midst."Ella,"I jumped as I heard the sound of my name and looked around, wondering who had called me. I had been so far gone in my thoughts that I couldn't identify who had called me by my name.The men snickered as they looked at one another. "Where are you at?" Kevin asked."I was lost in thought, I
Ella's POVI heard sounds and as much as I looked back, I didn't see what was running after me. I was terrified and my mouth ran dry as I continued running.I had sweats breaking out on my body and I forced myself to stop looking back so I could run faster. What was wrong with me? I wondered as I looked around my surroundings and continued running. How did I get here? I thought I was with Kevin and the others in the front of tree and wondered how I had suddenly gotten here.Whoosh! I heard a loud deafening sound and gasped as I saw the wind barreling towards me at an alarming speed.I didn't think I recognized where I was. This wasn't the jungle or was it? I didn't think I had seen this place while we were on our journey.If we were still in the jungle, I couldn't understand how I had gotten myself here. Had I hit my head against something and lost my memory? I couldn't have. Even if I had, I was sure that the boys were looking for me.I strained my ears, eager to pick up on the sound
Kevin's POV "Ella! Ella! Ella!" I shouted as I watched her slip into unconsciousness. My hand with which I was rubbing on her mark fell from her wrist and I grabbed her, shaking her to wake up but she was as stiff as a rock. What was wrong with her? "Ella!" I called out again. Liam placed a hand on my shoulder and I looked up at him with tear-stained eyes, probably looking as helpless as I felt. "You have to keep on cleaning the mark." "She fainted from the pain." Liam nodded to show me he understood my pain but his stare didn't soften. "You have to keep on rubbing the sap on her skin if you want to help her." How could I be helping her by running more of that on her body when it had been the reason she had been in pain and fainted? My hands were scalded from the heat and I couldn't imagine how hot it would be in her blood. She was a strong woman who had to have been in a lot of pain to make her faint. I didn't want to rub anything on her body again. I wanted to scoop her in
Kevin's POV I didn't want to act paranoid or like I was overreacting but Ella seemed withdrawn. I didn't want to press her for information with what she had just been through. Moreover, I didn't know how bad the battle she had fought had been so I didn't want to remind her of the terror by asking her how it had been for her. I just didn't want her to be silent and have the faraway look she had in her eyes. I wondered what she was thinking of. I slipped my hand into hers, letting her knowing that I was right here with her and she was out of whatever terror was in her head. She looked at me and smiled back. I nodded at her, refusing to comment on how sad the smile in her eyes was. Ella wasn't here yet. She was still in her head and I wondered what could bring her back to the present. I thought of what I knew she liked. I considered telling her a story but she would laugh at me that she wasn't a kid. "Kevin," she whispered. "What?" I glanced at her. "You are holding my hand too ti
Kevin's POVIt was a fierce battle, tougher than the one we had with him and his family but I didn't for once think that we wouldn't win. I wasn't afraid and was ready to give it all that I've got to send this huge bastard to his grave or he wouldn't let me rest.I believed in war that once I believed that I would lose, it was highly likely that I would lose the battle as my body would want to follow the path that my mind believed in. I couldn't have any smear of failure. Not at all. That was why I always stayed in high spirits and confidence even if the opponent was bigger and stronger than I was.I doubted that the cannibals could exist outside the jungle or they would have gone to the village to wreck havoc on the people there and avenge the death of his family. It was likely their only chance of getting their revenge was here while we were still in the jungle. If we could wound them enough to escape from here, we would be free of them.I raised myself on my hind leg, latching on t
Kevin's POV"Liam!" I yelled, pulling at his clothes as I kneeled by his side. "Don't you dare die on me."He smiled at me, his teeth shining through the foamy liquid pouring out from his mouth. "My lord." He said and went unconscious.I shook my head and cried out. How could he have the nerve to call me his lord in this situation? He was dying for my mate and was supposed to hate me. How could he think of smiling at this point? I didn't dare think of how I would feel if I lost him.I didn't come here for a barter of lives. I wasn't going to trade the life of my best man for the freedom of my mate. I cradled Liam's hand to mine as tears fell from my eyes and my heart surged with fear.Through the fog of tears filling my eyes, I saw the others lying beside me. I saw the horror and guilt filling Ella's eyes as she knelt by his side, opposite me. I was dejected and couldn't bear to look at her. I knew without a doubt that I was back to what brought me here. Ella was going to have nightma
Kevin's POV"Let's go together." The men said when the old man left us alone and went back to his house by the outskirts of town.I shook my head. There was no need for that. I thought as I glanced at the map with me. The river wasn't far and the way there wasn't as dangerous as that of the jungle had been. We only needed to walk a long path till we get there and the fewer we were, the faster we could get back."We don't need to go in bunch." I said as I turned to the eager men. "I know you all love Liam and would walk through the fires for him but I would only be taking Ella and Damien with me. The rest of you should help the village doctor and nurse to watch over Liam till we get back. Clean him off, always check up on him and make sure he is comfortable till we are back. Is that okay without everyone?""Yes, my lord." They all echoed with a bow of their heads. "Safe journey.""Thank you." I said and walked outside with the others on my trail.We met the doctor on his way in, rushin