A shout rose through the branches from below.
“Elias!”
It was repeated at a higher volume and with an alarming edge. “Elias! Where are you?”
Leaning slightly over the edge of the platform, Elias cupped a hand over his mouth and yelled back, echoing what he’d just said to me.
“Nothing is more important to me right now than taking my mate back to our tent. Whatever it is, I’ll deal with it later.”
The sound of pounding footsteps and heavy breathing now accompanied the shouts. Within a few seconds, a face popped into view above the platform.
A red-faced, sweating boy stared at Elias. Through puffing breaths, he said, “We’ve been searching for you. I need you to come with me.”
“I’m… busy right now. Can it wait?”
The kid shook his head so hard I worried he’d make himself dizzy and fall from the ladder he was hanging onto.
“I’m sorry but it’s urgent.”
Rolling his eyes, Elias blew out a long breath. “It had better be. This is supposed to be my day off. What’s going on? Where’s Zee?”
“He said you should come right away,” the boy said.
“Fine,” Elias said. “Tell me what’s happening.”
When the boy cut his eyes at me warily, Elias reassured him. “It’s okay. She’s my mate. Whatever you can say in front of me you can say in front of her.”
The guy looked relieved, like holding in the information had been painful.
“Lookouts spotted two intruders. We think they might have followed you two back here from the falls. One of them started climbing one of our trees.”
Elias moved quickly, encouraging the messenger to back down the ladder so he could descend.
“Where are they now?” he demanded as he climbed down after the boy.
“Captured. Zee ordered them held at the lowest level until you gave the order on what to do with them.”
Before leaving the lower platform, Elias looked up at me. “Stay there, love. Go into the tent with the other girls—stay out of sight.”
I was about to comply but then Elias asked the messenger, “Is it Retrievers? Are there others?”
“No. Lookouts spotted only the two of them for miles. And I don’t think they’re Retrievers. It’s a guy about our age—and he’s with a Gebby child.”
My heart leapt and then performed a double cartwheel in my chest.
“It’s Heath,” I shouted, scrambling down the ladder as fast as my feet would take me. “It’s Heath and Daniel. It has to be.”
Skipping the last couple of rungs, I jumped down to the platform and started running for the next ladder.
Elias grabbed my arm, pulling me to an abrupt stop. Frantic now, I looked around for the messenger.
“Where are they? Take me to them.”
The open-mouthed boy just looked to Elias, awaiting instructions.
I wasn’t sure Elias even noticed him. His attention was riveted to me.
He looked furious, his jaw turned to granite, and his eyes smoldered like coals.
“I told you to go back into the tent. We don’t know who’s down there. Even if it is him, it’s not safe. You have to let me go check it out first.”
“Is he tall with dark hair and bright blue eyes?” I asked the messenger.
The boy nodded a silent yes.
Attempting to pull away from Elias’ powerful hold, I did my best to reassure him.
“It’s okay. Heath would never hurt me. He’s my friend.”
His expression darkened. “And I’m your mate. You’re mine.”
“No, I’m mine. And we’re not mated—not yet.”
“I forbid you to go down there,” he said through clenched teeth.
Now I was getting angry. “Forbid? You don’t own me, and you can’t tell me what to do. If Heath came here, it’s for a good reason.”
Elias huffed a laugh that held no trace of humor. “Yeah, to get you back. To take you away from me.”
“That’s… ridiculous.” I tried to tear away from his grasp—unsuccessfully. “Heath let me go. He told me to leave and not look back.”
I glanced down at Elias’ large hand circling my wrist and squirmed again to get free. He didn’t loosen his grip one degree.
“Release me,” I demanded.
Then I brought my eyes up to lock with his in a fierce battle of wills.
“Well… are you going to let me go?”
It was a long wait for his answer, the tension between us thick and spiky.
Elias’ expression was dangerous as he held my gaze.
“Never.”
