exactly who the smiling child was.
Nothing I can do about it now. I hope someone will take care of her.
I had to focus on my life now, and not pity the life of another.
Dialing the number, I anxiously awaited as it began to ring.
Please. Dominick. Please. Pick up.
He answered on the fourth ring. "Who the hell is this?"
"Well, dandy to hear from you too," I couldn't help replying out of habit. Dominick rarely got angry. Like maybe once a year. For him to answer the phone like that proved he was not fond of me being kidnapped.
Thus, the reason I called.
"Holy shit, Cass?! Where the fuck are you?"
"If I knew that, I wouldn't be calling you!" I snapped back. "And stop acting like Otis. It's weird."
"We're freaking out here thinking your dead body is going to wash up on shore in the morning," he barked back.
My eyes rolled at his over-exaggerated response, but I really didn't blame them. "I'm alive. For now. I don't know where I am. A hotel? Near an ocean. I ran into the forest, but I don't know where to go. These humans kidnapped me to try and sell me to some man for millions? I escaped, but the man killed them. I think he's a supernatural, but I have no clue what he looks like or anything." I was fast-talking by this point, needing to get all the information out before I forgot.
"Hey. There's something he said that's freaking me out. He said I'm a supernatural and brought up my parents. It makes no sense, and I think he's just talking out of his ass, but now I'm worried. Can we talk about that once I'm back home and after some cuddles and ice cream?"
Dominick sighed as if he'd held his breath in for ages.
"Anything you want, Princess. We just need you back here. Otis and Adonis killed a few people by accident."
"Come again?" I questioned. "Killed? By accident?!" I had to cover my mouth for shrieking far too loudly.
"We only have so much control, Cass, and when it comes to you and idiots thinking you're not valuable to us, that usually means death."
"Aww. Isn't that romantic?" I grinned before I clutched the phone a little tighter. "Now, if only we could get rid of that witch hag."
"In time, Cass. We don't like her..." I sensed the truth in his words. It was difficult for fae to lie. They were similar to angels, and telling the truth kept their magic strong and pure for when the time came to use it.
"Are you all right? Where's Tristan?"
"He's with the Special Ops hunting you down. They’re already trying to find the coordinates of your phone."
"It's a brick phone," I muttered. "And you?"
I kept asking if he was okay because I knew Dominick better than anyone. That Master fae was destructive when angry. That was the very reason he rarely got mad.
Sure, Otis was a pain, but he was angry every day of the week. The others were also dangerous in their own ways, but one should never anger a fae. The world itself would face some consequences depending on how powerful they were.
"We had an earthquake earlier," he quietly muttered like it was a casual occurrence. "Wonder why that happened?"
"Dominick." If I hadn't been handcuffed, I would have pinched my nose, but holding this phone as close to my left ear was hard enough. "I'm safe. Please don't cause world destruction."
"You're ours." His low declaration had my stomach flipping. "No one takes what's ours."
"I'll be home soon. I just need to stay put and—"
The sound of a twig snapping cut me short, the hairs on my arms rising as a cold tremor ran up my spine.
"Cass?"
I didn't answer as a wave of hot air brushed against my entire back. I shivered then, feeling like the presence behind me wasn't a person.
Please don't be a bear...unless you're Everett.
The thought of him being behind me was enough to give me the courage to look over my shoulder, but the bit of hope was shot down to the pit of my stomach, fear lacing my entire body as my eyes widened.
Looking slightly upward, I noticed the massive set of teeth and black and dark green scales that reminded me of a large lizard. The absence of wings told me it wasn't a dragon, but the longer I stared, the faster my brain clicked on what this was.
"All...igator?"
It opened its mouth, displaying just how sharp its teeth were.
Run. Run! RUN!
The scream