Elena’s POV.
Killian’s watchful eyes never left mine for a second as we raced forward, the rogues which seemed to have multiplied in number were consistently chasing after us, their heavy breaths almost fanning our backs.
The faster we ran, the more they kept up the energy with us. Suddenly, I heard a loud shrieking growl echo through the air. The voice couldn’t belong to the rogues, neither was it from Darius or Green who were actively ahead, racing forward.
It was Killian.
One of the rogues had caught up with him. I swiftly turned around to see him struggling with the rogue. It was the most horrible scene to watch.
I needed to do something to help him, I had already stopped running as I contemplated on the next step to take to help him.
Suddenly, his gaze ran over mine and he let out a growl, I knew he was trying to signal me to move forward but I wasn’t ready to leave him behind.
“Get the hell away from here Elena, continue moving, I’ll catch up with you soon,” I heard his voice sound in my head. He was mind communicating with me.
I refused to take any step further, even if I wanted to, I couldn’t, it felt like I was glued to the spot, watching with tears clouding my eyes as he battled the rogue while screaming at me to move on without him.
I was about taking a step towards him when I was suddenly lifted off the floor and sped off.
I was about to scream out when I caught his scent, it was Darius, he had turned back and came for me.
“Darius put me down!” I screamed, kicking against him but I was no match for his strength, he continued to speed forward despite my pleas to go back to Killian. My claws dug deep into his skin as I protested but he seemed unmoved.
After what felt like forever, he slowed down and finally halted on the track. Greene was standing few feet away from us. Killian was no where in sight.
“That’s the community over there, the rogues already retreated, they can’t follow us to this point,” Darius blurted.
“And what about Killian? You left him to be eaten by those rogues?” My voice was beginning to break as I yelled at him, tears welled up in my eyes. My head was haunted by the horrible image of Killian getting overpowered by the rogues and torn into pieces.
“Killian will be okay,” he breathed out.
“How do you know that? And why did you run off with me? Why didn’t you stay with him and fought the rogues?”
“That’s what Killian would have wanted, it is dangerous for you to stand there with the rogues lurking around,”
“I don’t care what he wants, I didn’t want to leave him,”
“You would risk your life for him?”
“Yes, I will, over and over,” The words flew out of my mouth before I could hold it back.
I watched as his face dropped, his eyes laced with sadness and hurt, I couldn’t look into them for longer than a second.
I felt guilty for being the reason he’s hurt, but at the same time, I couldn’t get the image of Killian and those rogues out of my head, I needed to find a way to locate him.
“I’m going back to find him,” I turned around and made to run off but I had barely take a step away when I felt his hands around my waist, lifting me off the floor.
“You love him, I get it, but I won’t let you put your life in line for him,” he said, his hands around my waist held on tightly.
“Let me go, Darius!” I cried, kicking aggressively against him.
Almost immediately, a loud growling noise rose from the bush nearby. Darius quickly moved me behind him and charged towards the direction of the noise.
I felt a pang of pain drive through my chest as I stood behind Darius, he was still protecting me despite everything that has happened between us. Why does he have to be so kind? I don’t in any way deserve him. Darius deserved someone who would love him completely and bring him so much peace unlike me.
I shivered slightly as a rustling sound came from the path of the bush where the noise had come from. Darius was about lunging forward when Killian walked out, he was ruffled with traces of blood all over him and his clothes torn.
In a flash, I ran towards him, not waiting to see his reaction before running into his arms. I could feel his heart beating so fast as my head laid gently on it.
It felt like the world stopped turning as we stayed lost in each other’s arms, every other thing seemed to fade away.
Somehow, I wasn’t bothered that Darius was present and he could see everything, all I wanted was to hold Killian until I was convinced that he was truly here. I still felt surreal, I had thought that I would never see him again.
“Why are you so stubborn?” Killian suddenly muttered as we broke the hug.
“It was a horrible sight to watch, I wanted to help and not leave you there,” I replied.
“You don’t trust me to handle it?” He raised his brows at me.
I stared blankly at him, words stuck in my mouth.
He turned towards Darius with a relaxed look on his face. “You did well.”
I couldn’t hold back the smile that broke out on my face. Could this mean that he was beginning to warm up to Darius?
“So, that’s our destination over there,” he walked past us and stood at the entrance to the small community. I couldn’t believe Aragorn would hide in a place as tiny as this. He really is terrified of Killian.
“How do we get in?” Greene spoke up and Killian breathed in deeply. He seemed to be lost deep in thought.
“Hey, look,” Greene suddenly pointed toward a direction.
It was a group of slaves assembled in an open space.
“Well, I think we have a way,” Killian smiled.