Bonded to the Rakian Berserker (Rakian Warrior Mates #3) - Elin Wyn Page 0,29

heels she faced the man who had tried to corner her earlier in the afternoon.

There was no mistaking the tall, thin frame, the way the greasy dark hair shone.

Or the menace on his face.

And this time he wasn’t alone.

Four more men, their smudged faces and soiled clothes belying the smarmy, arrogant smiles that marked each one’s face.

“I had a feeling I’d be seeing more of you again pretty lady.” With a quick sideways jerk to the head, the four men spread out, circling around her.

Dammit, what had she been thinking?

Yes, this was important information.

But now she was on her own.

Everyone was still so busy clearing the wreckage of the fire, they’d never notice she hadn’t returned with the children.

Even if Brynlee thought of it, she’d assume Esme had returned to Gavin’s side.

At the thought of the tall star man, she clenched her teeth.

She shouldn’t have been checking for marks, instead should have been retrieving her knives from the bodies.

With a quick, almost unnoticeable flick of both of her wrists, she waited for the split second it should take for the knives to fall into her waiting hands.

Nothing fell.

She hadn’t miscounted.

She only had one blade left.

“So, you were watching all along,” she said, hoping her voice stayed steady. She wouldn’t give these bastards the satisfaction of seeing her fear.

“Just curious,” the man shrugged as he stepped closer. “You know how it is when you’re watching something interesting.”

She stepped back, but the men arranged in a circle around her didn’t give her much space to maneuver in.

“It was quite a show, you know? All that fire and screaming and running around.” The thin man waved his arm, gesturing to encompass the entire scene. “And then these guys showed up…” He kicked the body she’d been examining. “At first I thought you and those kiddos were goners. So sad.”

“You watched. And it never occurred to you to help,” Esme said dryly.

“Of course not. Not really our business, you know.” He shrugged again, but the fixed gaze that bored into her made it clear any casualness was feigned.

“You would’ve been happy to take the leavings, strip the bodies of anything they had that was valuable, I suppose,” Esme spat. “That would be your business?”

A slight motion out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. One of the men had stepped closer, herding her as the net tightened.

She slid her fingers over the wire wrapped hilt of the dagger.

It wasn’t long enough to do much damage in hand-to-hand combat, but she couldn’t throw her only weapon.

The leader of the gang took another step towards her. And then another.

Long enough, she’d have to try.

And then suddenly Gavin’s bulk seemed to block out all the stars as he loomed behind her assailant.

With no more warning than a bone shaking growl, Gavin grabbed the man, shaking him savagely, until there was a sickening crack, and the attackers head lolled to the side.

Fury unabated, Gavin flung the corpse into the next closest man, knocking him clear off his feet.

In a spinning flurry of blows he tore into the rest of them, circling back to the one he’d knocked down by the time Esme took another breath.

And just like that, all five were down.

Other than that first bone-chilling sound, Gavin had destroyed them all silently, before they’d even known their destruction was at hand.

Esme couldn’t exactly feel bad about it.

Gavin paced around her slowly, sniffing the air as if waiting for the next round of attackers.

An instant later, Jormoi was there, Hendrick and Liam close behind. “This isn’t good, Jormoi said, face grim.

Hendrick and Liam’s eyes were wide as they took in the carnage. “What sort of monster can do that?” Liam breathed.

“Don’t be an idiot,” Esme snapped.

“Gavin, they’re gone. You got them all.” She stepped towards him, but he continued pacing.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Jormoi said quickly.” I think it’s best if you just moved away slowly. I’ve never seen him quite like this. Maybe I should call Nic.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” she said. With only the slightest twinge of nerve, she shifted her position to stand in front of Gavin, blocking the path of his restless prowling.

Despite the soft sound of inhaled breath from their watchers, Gavin made no move. He stopped, head still turning, waiting.

She took a step closer, put her hand on his forearm. “I want to take a walk,” she said softly. “Will you take me?”

His head lowered towards hers, eyes still blank.

She needed to get him away from here. Needed to give him