FORTY | KIDNAPPED

*My head's killing me*. I roll my neck experimentally from side to side, wincing as a particularly tender spot on the back of my skull alerts me to a knot the size of an egg. I gently rub the spot, squeezing my eyes tighter - then freeze. I'm not bound this time. Or gagged. It's still dark and all my senses are pointing me still being locked in the trunk of a car. Okay, now this is getting creepy.

*If a Hunter had taken me and was planning on torturing me, why would they have left me unbound? Sure, after hitting me, they could have thought I was dead - again - but why risk it?* My only conclusion is that it wasn't a Hunter.

*So if not them, then who?* Paris and Ryker wouldn't have been able to shoot me. And they wouldn't have tossed me in the trunk of a car. They *know* I can't fight for shit. They would have the upper hand when dealing with me. They wouldn't have bound me at all to begin with. I'd probably be riding in the back seat with them now if that had been the case.

*Who does that leave?*

Uncertainty shivers through me like a viper, coiling deep in my stomach. *Who could I have pissed off enough outside of the Reiniers to have not only been knocked out twice, but shot thrice?*

I brace myself as the car stops yet again. This is it. I tense my muscles for the fight of my life, resolving that, if whoever's kidnapped me is going to kill me, I'll just have to take them down with me.

With that rather pumped-up resolve, the trunk's hood pops open and I throw myself at my captor.

"Whoa! Easy!" Wide silvery-grey eyes lock on mine at the same time strong hands catch my wrists-

*I sit at the edge of the dock, feet dangling in the water, listening to the hum of voices behind me. The sun's high over head, cicadas chirping somewhere in the trees, a few people running on the far edge of the lake. Children playing at the shoreline, blissfully ignorant to the problems of the world.*

*"Penny for your thoughts?" A woman comes to sit beside me - and for a second - I think I'm looking in a mirror. But then I see her slightly bulging stomach and the slightly more blue-than-green eyes. Paris.*

*"Just thinking about the past." I tell her honestly, giving her a weary smile. Her neutral expression darkens a bit and she sighs, rubbing her stomach absently, the way she's been doing for the last few months now.*

*"Ah," She takes a deep breath and looks over her shoulder to where two men are conversing by a bar-b-q pit. One's head is shaved clean, mocha skin healthier than when I'd last seen him, reddish-brown eyes bright with excitement. The other is pale, inky black hair still as wild as the first day we met, but older now. They both look so calm and casual that you'd never guess they were sworn enemies by nature. Who'd have ever thought? A Wolven and a Hunter, friends*.

*"Sorry, you wanted to know." I shrug, returning my eyes to my cousin. She's watching her mate with warm eyes, but her lips twist ruefully before she looks back at me*.

*"You know," She tilts her head thoughtfully. "If you had never called for that peace treaty, we wouldn't be here now." She takes my hand, gently squeezing it. I smile at her and nod, returning the light pressure.*

"*Hey, it was you who put in the work, too." I remind her. "After everything that happened back then," I shake my head, my thoughts going from the darkness of the past to the more recently bright present. "I'm just so happy it all worked out.*"

*"Speaking of working out," Paris nudges me, her face bright with her widest grin. "What's Zane's secret?" I laugh at the abrupt change of subject*.

*"You'd better not let Graves hear you talk like that!" I say, a little too loudly. Both men look over from the metal contraption that's supposed to be cooking our dinner.*

*"Talk'n like what?" My cousin's mate raises an eyebrow at us, looking from me to Paris. *

*"N-nothing!" Paris calls back, a bright blush painter her cheeks. The Hunter saunters over and gives Paris a smoldering look. That alone has me looking away from the two and quietly excusing myself to skip over to Blue*.

*"You like seeing her so flustered, don't you?" Blue chuckles, his tone slightly scolding as he wraps his arms around me. I grin up at him conspiratorially before glancing over to where Paris is being rather brazenly kissed by her mate*.

*"It's fun," I shrug. "And I like seeing her so happy after..." My voice trails off as I turn back to Blue - only to see him eyeing me with the same intensity Paris' mate looked at her. "Wh-what?" I breathe, feeling a swell of heat coiling around me - in me*.

*"Nothing." He smiles gently, caressing the side of my face and looking tenderly into my eyes. "I just lo-"*

-The short vision leaves me breathless - anticipating the last syllables that never come. From vibrant, cheerful warmth to the icy cold prison on the present, I let out a whimper of dismay. A brief tendril of confusion fogs my mind as I struggle to process what's just happened. I'm back in the trunk, but the lid's still open - only now Blue's hunched over me, my wrists pinned to the inside hood of the trunk.

We blink at each other for a second before he releases me - but he doesn't go far.

"Hey, babe." Blue smirks down at me, though the expression is void of warmth. I continue to gape at him. "You okay? I didn't hit you too hard did I?" He reaches over and gently touches the knot at the back of my head. I instinctively smack his hand.

"What the hell is *wrong* with you?" I snarl at him. I try to put as much force as I can behind each punch I aim at his chest and stomach...he laughs. *Laughs*. "You *shot* me!" I accuse, the memories from before kidnapping flashing back into my head. "Three times! *And* kidnapped me!"

"I missed you, too." He sighs, ignoring my weak punches, and pulling me out of the cramped space. I note how he avoids my accusations. "Geez, you weigh like, eighty pounds. When was the last time you ate?" He frowns, easily subduing my flailing limbs and tucking me close to his chest. His warmth begins to slowly coax the worst of the pains from my muscles and I can't help but shiver, reliving the latest vision.

I know I should be pissed at him. Hell, give me one decent night's sleep and some food and I'm sure I'll be kicking the shit out of him in now time...but right now...The shock and confusion of all that's happened, only one thing is sticking out in my brain right now. *I've missed him. I've missed this*-

"How long've we been-" I begin to ask, the fluidity of my thoughts surprising me. But not for long.

"Scaaarleeett!" I'm suddenly ripped away from Blue and slowly being crushed by a much smaller body. Misha is practically sobbing as she tries to squeeze the life out of me.

"M-Misha-" I manage to cough out, my feet back on the ground. I'm disoriented as my low blood pressure forces a cascade of black dots into my field of vision for a second.

"You're so skinny!" Misha whines, still holding me too tightly. "Where have you been? We've all been so worried-"

"You're crushing her, Mish," Yuri interrupts his sister and I'm pulled from the young Wolven's strong grasp. Only to be boa-constricted into an even more painful set of arms. "We're glad to have you back, babe." Yuri's mountain-man body is all hard muscles as he tries to kill me in his bear hug. "Wow, Mish, you weren't kidding-"

"Oh God, I think-" I choke. "I'm dying!" I sputter, struggling to expand my lungs.

"Alright, you three, you've had your fun." I'm pulled away from Yuri and into another's side. "Welcome back, sunshine." Hale gives me a little smile, though his expression is masked and guarded.

"Back?" I ask, frowning at my father. I feel stupid, of course, for asking such a dumb question. I know we're back in Kiwina. I feel that we're back in Azure territory, hell, all I can smell right now is pine. But I can't think of anything else to say. Last time I saw Hale, I'd yelled at him, cursed at him, and run away. And here he is. After what feels like months. I don't know what to say to him.

"C'mon, Hale. We missed her, too." Misha whines, clinging to my other side, pouting ridiculously at him.

"I think Scarlett needs some R&R before she can have any visitors, Misha." Blue tells his cousin, gently prying her from my limb. Misha lets out a grumble before giving me one last, worried look and releasing me. Blue's warm hand remains on my upper arm for another second as he leans in. "I warned you, Red. You run, I'll chase you." He smirks at me, but still, the look doesn't reach his eyes. "You belong here. No matter what happens, whatever comes our way, you belong here."

My breath catches at his words and I search his eyes for some other emotion. Some sort of sign that'll let me know we're okay now...but all I see are his silvery-grey eyes. Blocking me. A sting of annoyance and hurt stabs at my chest and I look away, covering the gesture with a nod.

"Thank you, again, Zane." Hale tells Blue. I feel the sting migrate from my chest to my eyes and I have to set my jaw, looking around the wooded area. Focusing on the trees I try to seperate my thoughts from my emotions - finding it much easier to do than it was when I was in the west.

"Mhm." Blue hums, and I hear the steady beat of his footsteps fade.

"You'd better let us know when she's ready for visitors, Hale. Or else." Yuri says to Hale before coming over an ruffling my hair. "Get well, Scarlett. A lot of shit's gone down since you left and we'll need you to help us out." I blink and look up at him, frowning.

"What'd you-" I begin but Hale cuts me off.

"I'll explain once we get some food into you." He's using his no-nonsense tone again.

"Bye, Scarlett!" Misha waves and pulls at Yuri in the direction of the Azure territory center.