"Me?" I call out raising an eyebrow, my arrow still pointed at the man.

He steps out into the sunlight from across the creek. His strong and rugged features stand out like a soar thumb. His tall stature and set shoulders tell me he's a man of power and used to getting what he wants. His shoulder length deep brown hair is halfway up as the scruff on his face comes close to forming a short beard. Dirt settles in the creases of his face and his dark long sleeved shirt is stretched by his chest. He's larger than Luke but are both a similar height. His eyes are daringly pale— ice blue. A long sword attached to his back and a bold scar is stretches from his ear to his chin highlighting his cheekbone.

"Your friends are quite the bunch," he smirks as his eyes roam my defensive figure while twiddling a dagger.

"They aren't my friends," I growl pulling back more on the string ready to let go.

"I'm calling your bluff," he takes a few steps forward entering the creek.

I fight the urge to take a step back and to release the string. Instead I scowl, "That's your second mistake."

"And my first?" He stops as the water rushes around his ankles.

"Stalking me."

The man scoffs and keeps walking, "Your mistake was killing my scout."

I scrunch my brows and adjust my aim, "What are you talking about?"

"Three weeks ago you killed my archer," the man raises and eyebrow and strolls to through the creek, finally reaching my side.

He must be talking about the archer who shot
at Adam, my jaw clenches and I quickly move my bow just to the side of his head. I release the arrow and the man doesn't flinch as the arrow grazes the tip of his ear— exactly where I aimed.

Instantly, I snap a new arrow on the string and point it to his chest, "Come any closer and I won't miss."

"I don't doubt it," he says bringing his hand up to his ear to touch the blood. He flips the dagger back into his sheath, "I've seen you train... it's impressive. Blindfolded and you'll still hit the centre."

"What do you want?" My arm beginning to shake from the adrenaline rushing through my veins.

"I already told you, I want you."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because," the man takes a few more steps closer, "I need a new archer and you killed my last one."

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Because if you don't your friends will disappear."

"I'd be careful who you threaten," I growl as he takes one final step, his chest against the tip of my arrow.

"Go see them for yourself. I have people," he says before grabbing my arrow and pulling it off the string.

I don't move as he pulls it off the arrow shelf, "I'm calling your bluff."

"Call it all you want," he sighs and moves to my side sliding the arrow into my quiver attached to my hip. Slowly he leans in and rest his lips on my ear, "but if you get back and your sister Izzy isn't there... I told you so."

I bring my bow to my side and jab the end of it into his gut before running towards our camp. He flinches at my hit as my feet fly swiftly over logs and I duck under branches without heaving for air.

As I reach the camp I burst into the cave wide eyed, "Izzy!"

Adam and James look up confused as they loom over a hand drawn map. "She's out obtaining berries," James stares at me, "What is going on?"

I don't bother to answer his question and I shake my head, "Pack your things now, we've been found." Shifting my feet I bolt past the vines and run to a little cliff edge where Iz would usually go to collect berries. Once I reach the clearing I find her with a basket bent over her hands dyed blue and purple from the juices.

"Isabelle," I pant the adrenaline wearing off, "we need to go."

She looks up and smiles kindly at me, "No, first I want to apologize for what Adam said this morning."

"No," I shake my head and pull her up, "we need to go. We've been found, we're in trouble."

Izzy's smile slides off her face and she runs ahead of me. I quickly follow and we reach the cave within minutes, Iz panting and out of breath. I jog over to the cave and pull the vine curtain back to reveal an empty floor.

I played right into the man's hands. He wanted me to go chase after Izzy, they weren't after her, but the boys.

I turn around and walk back to my sister, "They're gone."

"What?" She asks pushing past me to go look into the cave as well, "Where are they?"

I shake my head and pace, "This is my fault! I should have shot him when I had the chance."

"I'm glad you didn't," a deep familiar voice teases me from behind.

I whip around to see the pale blue eyes which are unfamiliarly friendly, "Where are they?"

"Safe for now," he takes a few steps towards me so that we are only a few feet apart, "but your next action will determine their fate."

I glare at him my jaw set and tight, "What do I need to do?"

"You need to join me."

"Join you?" I ask raising and eyebrow, "Like hell I will."

"Be careful what you say," the man crosses his arms, "I have a proposition for you that most archers would kill to have."

"Than why choose a girl who's doing it unwillingly?" I ask moving my hand to an arrow, "I'm not loyal to you and even if I do say yes it's because you have two people I know."

"Because your friends make you loyal, you do one wrong towards me and they die. You don't and they live, in fact you get rewarded for your loyalty." The man takes a step forward and I snap out my bow load an arrow in one swift movement.

"Jean," Iz whispers, "just hear him out."

"Yes Jean, hear me out." The man tilts his head and smiles.

"Iz!" I hiss between my teeth glaring at her. Quickly her hand flips over her mouth as she realizes what she let slip between her lips.

"It's not like I didn't already know it," the man takes a step towards me, "just listen to my proposal."

"No," I snap, my stubbornness getting the better of me.

Quickly the man snags my arrow and throws it off my bow again before kicking my quiver, the arrows scatter randomly across the dark soil. He trips me and I stumble to the ground. I spin back up swinging my bow at him which he catches and twists making it slip out of my hands. He fakes swings the bow and I go to catch it but he jabs it in my stomach again, I groan. Reaching for the bow I miss as he pins me to the ground with his forearm and presses it to my neck while his legs hold my arms to my side.

"Stop!" Izzy yells hitting his back and trying to roll him off of me.

"Are you ready to hear my proposal?" He asks raising his eyebrow ignoring Iz. I struggle to breathe but manage to shake my head. His grip slightly loosens and I lift my hips off the ground. My leg snaps into the back of his head and I roll from out underneath him. Gasping for air I snag the bow and swing it at him, which he dodges.

"I understand why you went with a bow, you have a terrible arm. Not built for swords or one on one battle." He rolls his shoulders, "I guess I'll tell you the terms of my condition even if you don't want to hear them."

I charge after him and fake a swing with my bow twice before kicking him in the stomach. I go to kick him again but he catches my leg. His hand traps up my calf and I wriggle uncomfortably which only makes his smirk spread.

"I'll start with what I'll give you," he looks me dead in the eye. I get the feeling that he's talking about something a little more... what he wants to give me.

I jump up and kick his chin hard as he lets me go. I hit the ground roughly and I wince, "I don't need anything from you."

"We'll see about that," he rubs his jaw and opens his hand for me to take it.

I squint and take it before kicking his knee and pulling him down. He falls beside me and I pin him to the ground my bow string against his neck, his dark blood oozing at the pressure I'm applying. "I don't need your help," I scoff as Iz hits my shoulders.

"Listen! He has our friends!" She scowls at me and I glare up at her.

"Your friends. I don't need them."

"Just because you lost Rox—"

"Stop!" I yell cutting her off, "This doesn't have anything to do with that."

"I'll give you your acquaintances back if you help me," the man takes his foot and uses his leverage to flip over so that he's on top of me. Pinning my shoulders down he stares me down, "I'll give you a proper place to stay. I'll feed you, I'll give you the experience you need to become better with that bow of yours— in fact I'll give you a better one. I know you want to, you're tired of staying here doing nothing. You want a purpose and I can give that to you. I'll give you the opportunity to kill people and practice your aim on something other than a wooden board and animals. That way when the time comes you have the ability to kill whoever you desire."

"And what if I desire to kill you?" I ask wriggling under his weight.

"Well at least you desire me," he winks. "But that's not it, I'll even train you in hand to hand combat so you aren't as dreadfully awful like Luke Ambrosa."

My jaw slacks and the sound of his name as it reeks havoc in my brain. A flash of memories, dreams and kisses shared with him causes me to break free of the man's grip. I flail my arms in an attempt to hit him, but he pulls away and gently takes my wrists and presses them to the grass. I haven't heard Luke's name in weeks.

"You know him?" The man asks shocked.

I love him, but like hell I'd tell this man.

"I don't know who you're talking about." I look away and fight the sadness seeping into my chest, I can't show weakness or fear.

The man squints and Izzy interrupts, "Can I say yes to the terms for her?"

The man chuckles and gets off of me and pulls me to my feet in a single moment. "I wish you could but she hasn't heard what I need from her yet."

"What's that?" Izzy asks more involved in this entire encounter than I've been.

"First I need Jean to do a trial mission with me, an assassination with just the two of us. If she does well than I'll keep her for other missions. She can't try to kill me and must remain loyal. As long as she keeps up with the rest of us and works with me you can stay and I'll take care of you and your acquaintances."

I look up at the man and move between him and Izzy, "I want one more term."

The man looks at me with interest and curiosity which sparkles in his eyes, "And what's that?"

"You have to assist me in the execution of Lady, the leader of the Bellator Clan."