Pathfinder's Way (The Broken Lands, #1)

by T.A. White

“You must be some kind of stupid, boy, to be pulling this shit on a pathfinder. The very person responsible for getting us through rough country. If she wanted to, she could lead us into a beast’s nest and leave us there. Nobody would ever know what happened to you.” There was another groan as Witt picked him up and slammed him back down. “The amount of disrespect for both our pathfinder and the expedition leader that I just heard come out of your mouth infuriates me. I hear something like that from anyone else in this party, and you won’t have to worry about what she does because I’m going to rip the tongue from your head and present it to your mama so she has something to remember you by.”

“You made quite an impression last time, little spider. Fallon doesn’t like it when his toys go missing.”

The color of your eyes has been burned into my brain since that man ripped away your hood in Edgecomb. The feel of your body when I caught you on the wagon has tormented me in dreams ever since. I never know what is going on behind those eyes of yours.” He gave her a wicked smile and Shea’s breath caught at the sight. “You are a constantly evolving puzzle.

He put his mouth against her ear and whispered, “I suggest you enjoy your run while you can. In the end, you will still be mine, and you will give me what I want.” He drew back and smiled his dark smile at her. “I will certainly enjoy the chase you lead me on.”

“Because you have already made your choice whether you’re willing to admit it or not. Because when you were gone I knew fear such as I have not known since I was a boy watching my father die, and my mother take her own life rather than face dishonor, not because I thought you had run to my enemies but because you were out there somewhere on your own, perhaps hurt or scared or in pain, and I wasn’t there to help you. But mostly, because you are mine, and I crave the same commitment from you.”