book #3 DARK KNIGHT ***COMPLETE***

#12 pushing too far

Zara was on the horse like creature her hands bound with silver. it was draining her energy and her wolf was unable to help her but she refused to give in and let herself drift off. a warrior was behind her to ensure she didn't escape. "so not only am I bound by silver to stop my wolf from shifting but then you make me ride shotgun with this warrior like I would know where to run in this realm. I must be very dangerous Jonathan. " Zara knew her sparky attitude was very dangerous. making sure not to call him king and only addressing him by his first name. she could see his body tense every time she spoke. she tried to hide her amusement at his misery. she knew he would be giving her misery of her own soon so she was going to push him as far as she could first.

"keep it up wolf and I will make sure to cut your tongue out." his mistake was letting her know how much he needed her. she knew he wouldn't do anything if he felt she could give him information.

she shrugged her shoulders and looked around acting bored. "you won't. " His body was laced with stress.

"and why would I not?"

"because Jonathan, " she emphasized his name seeing how he reacted. his jaw tightened and she had to keep herself from smirking. "you need me to help you in your world domination and to get your revenge on my brother and Scarlett. without my tongue you get nothing."

he stopped the group jumping off and marching himself angrily at her. a little fear creeping into her body as she tried to act as though she was bored of his antics. his jaw was tight and his voice was gruff as he pulled her off and spoke with so much anger and hate she could feel him cracking. "shut your f*****g mouth or I will just have you killed right now." his eyes were glowing darker and Zara could sense his dragon pushing towards the surface. she knew at that point she had pushed enough. he threw her down to the ground watching as she landed hard falling to her back. "tie her to the beasts and make her walk. maybe a little hike will help her with her extra energy!" he mounted his horse like creature and waited for Zara to be tied to the beast.

the warrior slid down doing as he was told giving her just enough slack in the rope so she could walk. her wrists were on fire from the silver that touched her skin and she could see they were becoming raw and enflamed. she let her eyes dart around surveying the area they were in. she was trying to determine how far she could get on foot and if she could survive not knowing the area or terrain very well. back tracking was not an option. it would put Avaly and the others in too much danger. no, this time she knew she was on her own. the warrior pulled himself back on the beast and they began again as Zara was pulled behind. she kept quiet from then on trying to loosen her bindings so she could run as hard as she could. she tripped and stumbled but they did not stop for her. she had to be quick to get on her feet or she was dragged mercilessly along the ground. her clothes now torn and dirty from the ordeal. zaras eyes grew wide as she realized she had gotten the ropes lose enough to slip off. she closed her eyes quickly trying to calm herself as she gaged her situation. she would still have the silver on so there would be no wolf helping her. this was going to have to be her and possibly her only chance to save herself from the torture Jonathan planned. she did not move her head side to side only glancing at her situation trying to form a plan through the corners of her eyes. she calmed her breathing and steadied her heart rate. she had to remain calm to pull this off. there was a clump of trees ahead that she knew she could have a chance if she could make it to them. she could use the coverage to run and hide and attack only if necessary given her the upper hand. the walk to the tree line was slow. so painfully slow. she tried to not let her nerves get the better of her. taking slow deep breaths to keep her heart from beating too fast. each step was agonizing as she waited to be close enough to run. then they were there. it was now or never and she used this opportunity to pretend to trip and fall to her knees to slow the group down enough and distract them. when she got up from her position they hadn't even realized she had slipped the rope off and was running towards the trees as fast as she could carry her legs. her heart was pounding as she pushed herself to go even faster not looking back out of fear. she knew he would be there and looking back would only slow her speed down. the silver on her wrists were digging in and feeling like a vice around her wrists, yet, she kept pushing forward. she heard them close behind just as she made it into the tree line dodging the warrior who had been on the horse beast with her. her breathing grew heavier and she was sucking in as much oxygen as she possibly could willing her legs to keep going. she looked up seeing a raging river in front of her. wolves weren't the best swimmers but she had learned to swim well enough and it was now her only chance to get away knowing fire shifters avoided the frigid waters on Earth. she closed her eyes and took a leap jumping into the water.

she gasped in as the icy waters consumed her dragging her under. the current was roughly pulling her down and pushing her body down stream. she was fighting for air as she was tossed around. her mind was cold like the temperature of the water and it was making her thoughts random and fuzzy as she tried to force herself not to panic. she needed to calm herself and think. push up . she heard the thought in her head which frightened her. it wasn't her wolf she was sure of that. she used her legs to push up off the bottom and she felt herself propel fast through the water until she broke free from the surface. the water was frothy and it was dragging her down stream fast. she no longer saw the dragons who had taken her yet she felt no relief yet. she looked around as she was bounced off rocks that were strewn around the river. she heard the voice in her head again. swim under now! she listened to the voice just as a dragon swooped through the sky no doubt looking for her. who was this voice? out of nowhere she felt something touch her hand pulling her deeper into the water. she struggled against whoever had grabbed her afraid she was caught. then the voice was in her head again. don't struggle I will hide you. she had no choice she needed to be away from the dragons looking for her. she shook her head trying to hold on to whatever breath she had left. it felt like minutes but in reality only seconds when whoever had grabbed her helped her break the surface. she was gasping for air and gasping trying to breathe and push the water out of her lungs. she hadn't realized she was in a cave. "is this an under water cave?" she said it out loud to no one in particular.

it was then that she became aware again and that someone had pulled her into this cave. the same someone that may have saved her life from the fire dragons. " yes, it is my home. come there is a ledge with a cavern. I will take the silver off your wrists as well. I can sense your pain. Silver doesn't hurt me."

Zara was helped to the edge as the most beautiful woman she had ever seen cut the bindings off her wrists freeing her. she climbed up onto the edge taking in a deep breath as she sat there for a moment longer. "are you a mermaid?"

"I am a siren. come I have some fresh fish we will cook it and eat. let you get some rest and then I can help you with whatever you need." the sirens long deep brown hair flowed freely around her waste. her eyes were deep blue like the oceans on Earth and Zara was sure there was sadness deep within them. she was grateful for this woman before her. Zara knew she had saved her life.

"why did you help me? I thought sirens were dangerous?" Zara put her hands up to her mouth. when was she ever going to learn to shut up. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to offend you. that was rude."

"it's fine. no, those are all rumors passed down through generations. how we lure unmated men to their deaths. a siren can not lure anyone to do anything like that. we can walk on land but most don't even know that anymore. we can only lure our mates and persuade unmated to make love. but once we are mated it is for life just as yourself. "

"do you have a mate?" Zara was curious by this new development. this knowledge could bring the water and land kingdoms together. it was knowledge that most did not possess.

"I did. once." she looked away the sadness no longer hidden.

"what happened to your mate?"

"king Jonathan had him killed." with that Zara knew why this siren had saved her life from Jonathan's men. she was not loyal to the evil beast that was hell bent on taking more power.