Page 67

Lights were blindin’ me. Commander Davis stalked closer.

“Sean, will ye see tae the family, bring them home?”

Sean said, “Aye.” He looked away.

Commander Davis yanked my arms down behind my back, shoved me forward onto the rocks covering the courtyard floor. He bound my wrists.

“I said I will go easily, daena hurt anyone else.”

I shifted in the gravel to look behind me. The corner where the vehicles had been grouped looked empty. The winds had grown calm. Quentin and Tyler were headed tae Florida with the vehicles.

Commander Davis stepped on my back, forcing my air from my lungs. “Gather your things men, we have what we need.”

Three more vehicles drove into the space. The men brought the vehicles in close together. Headlights shone toward me. The men were silhouetted as they landed the drones and packed up equipment, preparing tae leave.

Another captive was yanked from the back of a vehicle and shoved toward me.

“Och, nae,” I said intae the dust and gravel of the courtyard ground.

40 - KAITLYN

Iwas shoved to my knees beside Magnus.

“I’m sorry, they came to the house, they got me—” I struggled against the ties on my wrists but there was no breaking them.

“What of Lizbeth, is she delivered?”

I nodded. “She had a baby boy. I think she’ll be okay. I hope so, I — what are we going to do?”

Magnus shifted to raise his head a bit. “Tis lookin’ verra bleak, mo reul-iuil. Our only hope is my barbarian brother standin’ over there starin’ down at his sword and I daena think he is tae be counted on. Next time I see him I will kill him sure as he’s standin’ there doing nothing.”

I bit my lips. “If you see him again.”

“Och, aye.” He shifted in the dirt, his cheek on the ground. “We are headed tae the future, I wish I was on my feet tae protect ye.”

A loud clanking noise sounded behind me, I scrabbled closer to him and collapsed against him. “I wish I could chew through your bindings.”

“What have ye got in your pockets?”

“Nothing, the walkie-talkie. I was so hungover when I got up and just thinking about what I needed for the birth, I didn’t put on a knife or anything. I am such a⁠—”

Another person, silhouetted against the lights was shoved to the ground beside us. “Tyler?”

“Yep.” His arms were bound behind his back. He was twisting himself around on the ground.

Magnus said, “Why didn’t you jump with Quentin?”

“I don’t know why the fuck I do anything.” He shoved his ankle near my hands. There’s a knife there. Right there.”

I was clasping and wriggling my fingers, straining against the holds to get to it. “Katie, it’s right there, get your fingers on—” He yanked his ankle in the opposite direction and a knife slipped through my fingers and thumped to the ground.

He scrambled up to a sitting position. I dove backwards to pick up the knife.

Magnus met my eyes. “Ye have it?”

I nodded.

A man came over just then, “All of you, get up.”