THE DEN OF THE LION

Samantha's POV The voice froze me in place and sent chills down my spine. Turning carefully, I looked around the thick woodland for the source of the familiar voice. It was the menace behind the sound, the quiet certainty that belonged to someone who knew they had already won, not just the sound that set my heart pounding. Adrian's body stiffened alongside me. On his face, I could see the flutter of recognition; his jaw hardened as he readied himself for whatever was ahead. I said, "We're being hunted," barely audible, but I knew Adrian heard me. Under his breath, Adrian murmured, "Keep moving," his hand tightly around mine as he drew me forward. Look forward instead of looking back. But the shadows moved and Jared emerged from the shadows before we could walk more than a few paces. His stance relaxed as though he were just out for a midnight walk; his smile was as chilly as the evening around us. Two guys trailed behind him, their faces as blank and deadly as the evening. "Running is useless, Adrian," Jared said, his voice calm and almost amused. "You have thus far made it; but, the game is over." Looking from Jared to Adrian, whose face had become stone, my heart thumped in my chest. The tension was flowing off him, his body coiled tightly, poised to strike at a moment's notice. Still, I could clearly tell we were outnumbered. Outmaneuvered. "What are you looking for, Jared?" Adrian's voice sounded cool, yet I shivered from an undercurrent of wrath. Jared laughed, a deep, dark sound. "What I have always yearned for". Governance. You felt you could get away with pilfering what was mine. But you have always known that I will see you finally. Though Adrian tightened his hold on my hand, he did not reply. I could see the computation in his eyes, the mental racing he was doing as he sought a way out of this. However, there was no escape. Jared had too precisely scheduled this. Then Jared's eyes swung to me, his smile broadening. And you, Samantha. The most fascinating player in this little game has been you. I tried to keep my voice steady by swallowing hard. "Your game does not include me, Jared." He arched his eyebrows, his eyes keen and evaluating. Aren't you? Whether you see it or not, you have been at the center of it all along. Adrian's deficiency. The one thing that might cause him to kneel. I flinched at his words, resentment raging in my chest. Not anymore, I was not going to allow Jared to use me as a pawn. "I'm not a weapon you should be using." Jared's grin held no wavers. If anything, it spread out more. "Oh, but right now you are. And you have been playing your part quite brilliantly. I looked at Adrian; his jaw closed tightly and his eyes never left Jared. I sensed the strain there, the way he was hardly controlling himself. Though he wanted to fight, he recognized that every action would endanger us both more broadly. "This is between you and me," Adrian answered, his voice icy. "Leave her out of it." Jared's eyes strayed to Adrian, a face marked with a sarcastic disappointed glance. "You always were Adrian, rather honorable. Still, this is not only about you. About control. And you have already lost if by now you are not seeing. His words hung over us like a weighty blanket, smothering. The thought that we were imprisoned and that there was no way out of this started me to feel hopelessness. I resisted, nevertheless, from allowing the terror to rule. Having battled too much to reach here, I was not going to let Jared prevail. With a voice louder than I felt, "There's nothing left for you to control, Jared," I said. You're grasping at straws. Jared's face darkened significantly, the entertainment fleeting for only a minute. You find me to be desperate? You assume I have not scheduled this? He moved forward, his smile icy and predatory, eyes fixed on me. From the start, Samantha, I knew about you. And I perfectly know how to break you. His words sank in and my breath seized in my throat. He was not following Adrian exactly. He was hunting after me. He also knew more than he was revealing. With the secrets I had worked so hard to keep under wraps, my head flew with possibilities. But Jared's smile gave me all I required. He had worked it out already. "I can see it in your eyes," Jared said, his voice gentle but strong. You've been hiding something. And now is the moment for the truth to emerge. With a low, dangerous voice, Adrian moved forward to sit between Jared and me. "Stay away from her." Still, Jared wasn't bothered. He only fixed Adrian a smug smile. You believe you could keep her safe? You are hardly able to defend yourself. Adrian, I already have the win. You are just too proud to say it. Adrian's tight hands at his sides let me see the rage growing in him. From that initial strike, from moments away from cracking, I knew precisely what Jared intended. He sought to prod Adrian toward error. But right now we are making a mistake. With a trembling voice, "Adrian, no," I said. Don't. Adrian's eyes turned to me, and for a split second his ferocity softened. Still tight in posture, his voice lethal, he then turned back to Jared. I am not allowing you to pick her. Jared laughed, a stinging, sarcastic sound. 'Take her? Hey, Adrian. You still find it difficult, then? Already, she is mine. Jared waved his fingers before I could react, and the two men behind him moved forward to draw in on us. As I understood just how near they were, my heart hammered and panicked at my throat. With this was it. We were caught. Adrian came in front of me to cover from the advancing men. Though his body was coiled tightly, ready to battle, I could see the strain in his eyes. He understood that he was outnumbered. "We don't have to do this," Adrian remarked, his voice cool but tinged with rage. You could walk away, Jared. Jared's smile vanished, his face becoming icy. "Walk away"? Now, Adrian. I stay with everything. I never leave. Particularly not given the close proximity of success. My heart sank. Jared had no stopping in mind. He intended not to let us leave. And I realized we were running out of time even as Adrian fought to shield me. But suddenly, just as the two men moved forward, a loud crack from the trees behind us broke the quiet. Everybody froze. I did not dare to breathe for a moment. My eyes flew to the woods, searching for the source of the noise. And suddenly from the shadows a man appeared. Lucas was there. Rising forward, his rifle lifted and his face became harsh and unreadable. "Jared," he answered coolly, his voice steady. "I think it's time for you to back off." Though it missed his eyes, Jared's smile came back. Ah, the faithful friend. When would you be likely to show up? Lucas said nothing. Although Jared was the target of his training, his gaze strayed to Adrian, subtly conveying something I quite grasp. And I understood something at that same instant. Not as alone as I had assumed. Lucas moved forward once more, and behind us the sound of more footfall echoed. I turned, my breath seizing in my throat as more people emerged from the trees, their faces hidden by the shadows. We found ourselves surrounded. And I wasn't sure if they were here to either end this once and for good or save us.