Free Fury of the Six (The Preston Six Book 5) by Matt Ryan

for her.” The Arrack nodded toward Evelyn. “She’s something very important to him.”
    “Yeah, we know,” Poly replied, rubbing her wrists as her restraints fell to the ground.
    The Arrack moved to Joey. “You are the messenger?”
    Joey knew what the Arrack was asking. “Yes.” Unknowingly, he had delivered a message that killed off much of the Arrack world, a weight that crushed his soul. “Had I known . . .” he shook his head, “I’m sorry.”
    The Arrack squinted as he unlocked the last bolt. Joey flung the restraints and stood up.
    “Free her as well, please.” Poly pointed to Edith.
    “She’s not part of the deal.”
    “What deal? What are you talking about? Get her out of there or we aren’t leaving.”
    “I was told only about you four and your baby.”
    “I don’t care who told you what. Just give me the keys.” Poly yanked the key from the Arrack.
    It looked impressed. “You are fast.”
    Poly huffed and unlocked Edith.
    “What’s your name?” Joey asked.
    “Tick.”
    “Well, Tick, I thank you for the freedom,” Lucas said. “Now please tell me you have a plan beyond this?”
    “Oh yes, I killed the guards on the outside and the others have cleared a path to the stone.”
    “Others? Who are you with?” Poly asked.
    “There’s a large group of us who know the truth. We have sworn a blood oath against Marcus and will not honor a new agreement. Now, we must go. They won’t be distracted for long.”
    Poly took Evelyn from Edith and inspected her much like a quality control person looking for frayed edges or chipped paint.
    “Please, we have to hurry,” Tick urged. “He will be here soon.”
    “Can we get our weapons? There is a bow . . .”
    “Yes, yes, out here. Come on.”
    Lucas followed the Arrack and Joey kept back near Evelyn, expecting a trap at any second. He only hoped this guy was taking them to their weapons and not to some strange elaborate plan orchestrated by Marcus. Joey gripped his shirt tight, fighting the shakes. He limped up the steps and Poly glanced down at his leg.
    Two dead Arracks lay on the floor as they made it to the top of the steps. Joey looked at Tick again. This little thing killed both of those guards at the same time?
    “Right over here.” Tick used another key to open a cabinet. He pulled the wooden door open and Joey saw Prudence sitting on top of the rest of their items.
    They collected their belongings in short order and he felt the whole situation shifting back in their favor. Armed, they had a chance.
    “Not far from here, the stone is.” The Arrack opened the next door and daylight flooded into the room.
    Julie leaned back and said, “Something doesn’t feel right.”
    Joey was starting to have the same feeling, but he looked back at the two dead Arracks. They seemed real.
    “What choice do we have? Let’s just run to the stone and take the first ticket out of this hell hole,” Lucas said.
    “I’m with Julie. This feels off,” Poly said.
    They left the building and spotted several more dead Arracks.
    “Not far,” Tick said.
    Outside, it felt late in the day. The sun lay hidden behind the trees, casting long shadows. Thankfully the light was at his back and he hoped it gave him a slight advantage. If Marcus was pulling the strings, he’d need all the help he could get.
    They left the dirt road and traveled into the forest. A small path had been cleared, maybe a deer trail. Joey kept one hand on his gun, and the other he used to turn on his shield. He felt the air around him shimmer as it enveloped him.
    Ten minutes in to their walk, Tick stopped. “The circle stone is right over there. This is as far as I go.”
    Joey looked over the hedges to the cleared circle. “Ambush?” He looked to Lucas.
    “I don’t know, I don’t see anything or anyone.”
    “Please, hurry,” Tick said.
    “Lucas, check it out,” Joey said.
    Lucas grasped Prudence and walked with an arrow in hand, scanning the surrounding forest. Joey