A rough hand suddenly clamped over Elara’s mouth from behind, yanking her backward into the bushes.
She screamed against the dirty palm, thrashing wildly, her weakened body barely making a sound. The rogue laughed low in her ear, his breath hot and foul.
“Well, well… look what we found wandering all alone.”
Elara bit down hard on his fingers. He cursed and shoved her forward. She stumbled and fell, rolling across the dirt. Three more men stepped out from the shadows, eyes gleaming with hunger. They were big, scarred, and moved like they owned the night.
She pushed herself up on shaking arms, chest heaving. “Don’t… don’t come near me.”
The leader, a tall man with a jagged scar across his cheek and wild tangled hair, grinned. “Pretty little thing. Running from your man, huh? You smell l
