Allard slid in next to Nightshade who looked up at him.

‘She told me to kill them.’ He told her quietly. Her hazel eyes stared at him, her lips parted a little and he felt his heart jump till she turned her face away, the shadows hugging her delicate features. Allard clutched at his sword as Nightshade spoke.

‘That’ll attract unwanted attention. I don’t believe they were headed our way.’

‘You’re wrong.’ Lila replied, her eyes flashing in the darkness and her lips pursed with anger, aimed right at Nightshade. ‘Those scouts will be after us. They’ll be able to sense you, Half-Breed.’

Nightshade’s eyes shot up and he noticed her whole body tense and straighten like a wolf about to strike.

‘How dare you...’

‘Well you are.’ Lila snapped, her lips coming back over her teeth in a dreadful smile. ‘Morana told me what you are. You were born out of rape. You were cursed for it. But how do we truly know that we can trust you... you could be just like them...’

‘Lila, be quiet.’ Allard jumped to the powered-beings defence.

‘Didn’t you know?’ Lila continued, her laughter harsh and sharp. ‘Our little powered-being is a Half-Breed.’

Suddenly the woman choked, blood spurted from her pale lips and her eyes rolled into the top of her head. Her nose began to run with fresh blood. Allard glanced at Nightshade and the woman let go of her magick. Lila toppled over writhing on the floor of the wagon, wiping at the blood and whimpering through her pain. Allard could not help but think that Lila deserved every drop of blood that was spilt.

‘I’m sorry.’ Nightshade whispered though her voice was cold, he could see the tears in her soft brown eyes. Lila didn’t bother to get up and lay on the floor of the wagon, hissing and growling like a demon but she now knew her place. Her place is below Nightshade.

‘Now we camp.’ Came Morana’s voice from outside as the wagon slowly to a halt. Lila was the first to stand and she walked back the powered-being without another word. Allard and Nightshade let Braeden passed. The man had not yet spoken but he rarely did, he simply inclined his head at the woman before jumping out into the night air. Allard turned to her suddenly.

‘Did you have to hurt her?’ He asked, his voice questioning but firm.

‘Yes.’ She replied, gently touching her right temple with her palm to brush away the pains of using her magick.

‘You could have talked to her.’

‘I don’t talk.’ She tried to fight past but Allard leaned across to block the doorway.

‘You can talk to me.’

Her eyes bore through him and he could sense her magick reaching out for him, just like Morana’s always did but then she paused and retracted it. She reached a gloved hand up to hit him but he caught it before she reached.

‘I will not talk to you, Allard.’

‘Then who will you talk to then, Nightshade? How about Morana? You were quick enough to sell your services to her bidding.’ He replied as she pulled her hand back, massaging the wrist where he had held it.

‘I’m not afraid of you.’ She breathed dangerously, pushing her hair out of her face. Allard moved aside to let her by but before she exited he whispered in her ear.

‘You are quickly running out of friends.’

She didn’t even blink and continued to walk past him.

‘I never had friends.’

Allard lifted his sword and fastened it to his waist. He followed Nightshade out of the wagon and was instantly cornered back Delano and Lila.

‘What?’ Allard asked though he already knew what they wanted from him and wished he could resist them.

‘We’re going after the scouts and you are coming.’ Delano replied, his voice cold and uncaring. Allard glared at the pig-man’s face.

‘Morana told us to keep close watch over you.’ Lila sneered, her voice like gravel on Allard’s ears, he could feel her mind attempting to penetrate his and he pushed her away forcibly as her physical fingers clawed at him to drag him away from the camp. His eyes connected with Nightshade’s for a moment as she stood motionless as though about to speak. Braeden came up behind her and began to speak as Allard was dragged away.

‘How are you feeling?’

Nightshade looked round to see Braeden standing tall and imposing. His striking blue eyes seemed to stare straight through her. He was sort of... plain looking but there was also no doubt that he was handsome in a sense. His golden-blonde hair was long and tied into a small neat ponytail. His muscles were as defined as Allard’s but he would be able to hold out in a fight. She was breathless for a moment, gazing deep into his eyes until she tore her gaze away.

‘I’m fine.’ She snapped coldly, reaching down to put up her tent.

‘Let me help...’ He gently took the sheet from her, using a branch to hang it from. His fingers gently brushed past hers and she jerked away.

‘I’ll do the rest.’ She turned her back to him and worked on the tent as Braeden clutched her hips, his lips by her ear. Nightshade found her whole body alight with a blood lust and sexual lust that she couldn’t push as Braeden kissed her neck.

‘Tell me about how to break you...’ He whispered into her ear, Nightshade tried to fight him and was losing, her mind flickering into and out of her own consciousness.
Suddenly footsteps could be heard in the undergrowth and Braeden put a hand on her head quickly. Nightshade felt a liquid pain drip through her mind as Braeden let go. She blinked a few times and looked round at him, confused.

‘What were you saying?’

Braeden smiled softly at her.

‘I said that I would help you with your tent.’

Nightshade stepped aside, trying to place why she had not heard that and why her head was throbbing so much. Braeden send her a gentle reassuring smile and Nightshade looked away, scratching at the itch on her neck.