Read Online Bound by Elisabeth Naughton - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Elisabeth Naughton
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quite,” she said under her breath. “And don’t mention him here either. His son is sort of a sore subject. In fact, don’t mention anything. It’ll be better for both of us if you just keep your mouth shut.”
“What the hell are you doing with a bunch of Amazons?”
Natasa had asked herself that numerous times. But thankfully, she didn’t have a chance to answer. Two sentries standing on the platform reached for the swing and pulled it forward.
Natasa jumped off the plank. Titus did the same. His hands were still bound in front of him, but there was no reason to lead him by the rope anymore. She let it fall to her feet. While he turned a slow circle and took in the city for the first time, she tried to see it from his point of view.
The Amazons were impressive with their hands. She had to give them that. Decks ran around tree trunks. Canvas tents formed houses. Rope ladders connected structure to structure, and everywhere you looked, the workings of a well-disciplined race could be seen as they went about their daily duties caring for both young and old, cooking food, sharpening weapons, living far above those who had no idea they were even there.
“Nymphs.” Awe reverberated through Titus’s voice. Several close by turned and stared his way. “Not just Amazons. Where are the men?”
“We don’t need men,” the guard to his left said, shoving him forward. He stumbled but caught his balance. She was Titus’s height, dressed in the same camo gear as Ilithyia’s squad, but Natasa knew from personal experience that Smyrna could be malicious. To the other guard, Smyrna barked, “Take him to the cage.”
Oh, I don’t think so . Natasa stepped in their way. “He’s my prisoner. Not yours, and not Aella’s.”
Smyrna turned her venomous stare Natasa’s way, but Natasa held her ground. She and Aella had worked out a deal. And she wasn’t about to be intimidated by this brute. She lifted her chin and looked toward the other guard. “Take him to my tent.”
The second guard glanced from Smyrna to Natasa and back again, as if unsure what to do. Long seconds passed in silence. Thankfully, this time, Titus kept his mouth shut.
Smyrna finally gave a curt nod to the other guard.
The guard grasped Titus at the arm and tugged. He looked back at Natasa with a what the hell ? expression. Natasa’s adrenaline peaked while he was led away. She just hoped to gods he didn’t say anything that would make the situation worse.
When he was gone, Smyrna used her height advantage and leaned over Natasa, a move clearly designed to intimidate. “Aella will hear about this.”
Natasa’s back tightened. She had no doubt the queen of the Amazons would hear about it from Smyrna, from Ilithyia, from every single Amazon they’d come across. The question was, what the hell was Natasa going to tell her?
“ I’m the only one who can grant you extra time .”
The words—the deal she’d agreed to—echoed through Natasa’s mind as she made her way toward her tent on the far side of the city. Perspiration formed on her forehead, and she swiped it away with her hand. Even with the Amazons’ cooperation, she was running out of that extra time.
She pulled back her tent flap and stepped inside. A large redwood trunk took up the middle of the room. Decking ran all around it. Her pallet of blankets and pillows lay on the floor to the left. To her right were books and maps she’d acquired during her months of research. Two guards stood in the middle of the room tying Titus’s wrists to D-rings bolted to the tree trunk above his head. Natasa tried not to watch—tried not to focus too much on why those rings were there…in every tent—and instead lit a lantern on a box by her bed.
Light illuminated the dark space. The guards stepped back. Natasa looked toward Titus. But unlike the cocky, almost teasing expression he’d sported all through their journey, now his features were tight, his lips compressed, and he seemed to
“What the hell are you doing with a bunch of Amazons?”
Natasa had asked herself that numerous times. But thankfully, she didn’t have a chance to answer. Two sentries standing on the platform reached for the swing and pulled it forward.
Natasa jumped off the plank. Titus did the same. His hands were still bound in front of him, but there was no reason to lead him by the rope anymore. She let it fall to her feet. While he turned a slow circle and took in the city for the first time, she tried to see it from his point of view.
The Amazons were impressive with their hands. She had to give them that. Decks ran around tree trunks. Canvas tents formed houses. Rope ladders connected structure to structure, and everywhere you looked, the workings of a well-disciplined race could be seen as they went about their daily duties caring for both young and old, cooking food, sharpening weapons, living far above those who had no idea they were even there.
“Nymphs.” Awe reverberated through Titus’s voice. Several close by turned and stared his way. “Not just Amazons. Where are the men?”
“We don’t need men,” the guard to his left said, shoving him forward. He stumbled but caught his balance. She was Titus’s height, dressed in the same camo gear as Ilithyia’s squad, but Natasa knew from personal experience that Smyrna could be malicious. To the other guard, Smyrna barked, “Take him to the cage.”
Oh, I don’t think so . Natasa stepped in their way. “He’s my prisoner. Not yours, and not Aella’s.”
Smyrna turned her venomous stare Natasa’s way, but Natasa held her ground. She and Aella had worked out a deal. And she wasn’t about to be intimidated by this brute. She lifted her chin and looked toward the other guard. “Take him to my tent.”
The second guard glanced from Smyrna to Natasa and back again, as if unsure what to do. Long seconds passed in silence. Thankfully, this time, Titus kept his mouth shut.
Smyrna finally gave a curt nod to the other guard.
The guard grasped Titus at the arm and tugged. He looked back at Natasa with a what the hell ? expression. Natasa’s adrenaline peaked while he was led away. She just hoped to gods he didn’t say anything that would make the situation worse.
When he was gone, Smyrna used her height advantage and leaned over Natasa, a move clearly designed to intimidate. “Aella will hear about this.”
Natasa’s back tightened. She had no doubt the queen of the Amazons would hear about it from Smyrna, from Ilithyia, from every single Amazon they’d come across. The question was, what the hell was Natasa going to tell her?
“ I’m the only one who can grant you extra time .”
The words—the deal she’d agreed to—echoed through Natasa’s mind as she made her way toward her tent on the far side of the city. Perspiration formed on her forehead, and she swiped it away with her hand. Even with the Amazons’ cooperation, she was running out of that extra time.
She pulled back her tent flap and stepped inside. A large redwood trunk took up the middle of the room. Decking ran all around it. Her pallet of blankets and pillows lay on the floor to the left. To her right were books and maps she’d acquired during her months of research. Two guards stood in the middle of the room tying Titus’s wrists to D-rings bolted to the tree trunk above his head. Natasa tried not to watch—tried not to focus too much on why those rings were there…in every tent—and instead lit a lantern on a box by her bed.
Light illuminated the dark space. The guards stepped back. Natasa looked toward Titus. But unlike the cocky, almost teasing expression he’d sported all through their journey, now his features were tight, his lips compressed, and he seemed to
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