They didn’t tie her up, but instead herded her back, one demon cat flanking Kyra on each side. When Kyra slowed, the cat behind her snapped at her heels. Kyra desperately scanned the trees ahead and behind her as they traveled. The cats were watching the path, not her. If she could break away for long enough to get to a hiding place…One cat turned its head and gazed at Kyra out of the corner of its eye, as if to assure her that they were indeed watching.

Demon Riders were already gathered at the clearing when Kyra arrived. Had they assembled at her escape? No, most didn’t even look at her as she was brought in. They clustered in groups, deep in discussion. As her captors pulled a rope tight around her wrists, Kyra glimpsed Tristam, also captive, slumped against a tree. He raised his eyes to hers and then looked down again, as if he were too tired to meet her gaze.

Pashla fixed Kyra with a burning stare. “Why did you do it?”

Why? Because they were slavers. Because Kyra couldn’t stand by and watch them murder Tristam. Because all she wanted to do was go home and cry on Bella’s shoulder, but she couldn’t, because they’d killed Bella too.

“I couldn’t let him die,” was all she said.

“You failed. He will still die tomorrow, and now you will too.” Pashla’s tone was sharp with bitterness and regret. It looked like she would say more, but she turned and wove into the crowd of Demon Riders. Kyra let herself slump when Pashla left, but her respite was short-lived. When Pashla returned, Leyus came with her.

The head Demon Rider fixed his gaze on Kyra and Tristam, and Kyra suddenly felt deeply ashamed. The two of them, filthy and exhausted, must have looked pathetic. “Keep them apart. I will speak to them separately,” he commanded.

Tristam threw one last glance back as two Demon Riders dragged him away. Others shoved Kyra against a tree, binding her tightly. At a nod from Leyus, everyone left except for two cats who watched from a distance. Kyra closed her eyes, digging for the resolve to face his questions.

The Demon Rider spoke calmly. “You have betrayed the clan and thrown Pashla’s trust in her face. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“What will you do with me?” she asked.

“I warned you. If you betray us, we will treat you like any other human. Even dying by our hands is more dignity than you deserve. Tomorrow, we return you to James to deal with as he wishes.”

James. He was the reason for all of this. “You’re fools to deal with him. He’ll betray you as readily as he betrayed me.”