Page 59 of Consumed By Fire

“I’m not supposed to say,” Goliath says. “Please don’t make me.”

“Where is she?” I stalk over to him.

He shakes his head, getting a panicked look.

“You’re a nice guy, but I won’t hesitate to take your head from your shoulders. Where is the Red? My Red! Where is she?”

“Dagger came to fetch her earlier. They left.”

“Dagger?” It’s the last thing I expected to hear. I sound shocked because I am…to my core.

“Where did they go? Which direction? Tell me right now.” I grab him by the throat and throw him against the wall.

Goliath’s eyes fill with fear. He makes a choking noise, and his face starts to turn red. I let the male go.

He coughs a few times, grabbing hold of his throat and breathing deeply. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I will kick your ass from here until next week, so help me—”

“Okay, fine! I overheard something about him taking your female…taking the Red to the airstrip. There is a chopper waiting. He left in his SUV.”

I start running. I’m in mid-shift when he says, “She went willingly.”

No!

I stop dead in my tracks. My blood runs a little cold. I turn. “What was that?” My voice is deep and growly, more animal than human.

“Dagger spoke to her for a few minutes, and then they left. The female went willingly. It was her choice. He is letting her go. Shadow wants her to return to Mistveil, and she agreed to leave.”

“It’s a mistake,” I growl. Trinity wouldn’t just up and leave like this.

No! Not like this.

It can’t be.

“I’m sorry, Octane,” Goliath mutters. “I know you like her. It isn’t a mistake. I know what I saw. Your female left on her own steam.”

Trinity

The SUV races along a dirt road, kicking up dust behind us. Dagger is at the wheel. He hasn’t said so much as a word since we left. There is jungle on either side of us. It slowly opens up the further we go, the trees thinning out and making way for grass.

“We’re nearly there,” he tells me.

I nod once, feeling apprehension grow inside of me. Am I making a mistake? No! Dagger is right. I don’t belong here. I need to return to Mistveil. My presence is harmful to Octane. The longer I stay, the more my life is at risk, too.

I’m doing the right thing.

I must leave.

We drive on for a while longer before arriving at the airstrip. I see a light aircraft and two choppers. One of the helicopter’s doors is open. A pilot is standing beside it.

“Not a word,” Dagger tells me as we drive up to a gate.

I nod when he glances at me. “Okay. I won’t say a thing,” I add when he doesn’t seem to buy it.

“You will be killed if they find out that you are a Red,” he growls.

“I know.” I sigh.