Zola Flash (The Zola Flash Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

try to hear as much of the conversation as possible.
    “Have you found her?” one of the Payohlini ask.
    “No, but I’m on it,” Pin answers. “You can take a break. I’ll find the troublesome brat.”
    My mouth falls open. A brat? I’m not a brat. If he hasn’t forgotten, his people invaded my home. Not the other way around.
    My mouth is still hanging open when a shadow appears over me.
    My eyes widen, and putting my hand over Doodles mouth, I slowly turn to see Rican standing behind me.
    He smirks down at me, twisting his features into an unpleasant expression. I push to crawl away, but he snatches me up by my leg before I’ve barely moved.
    Doodle falls from my arms and goes screeching around the corner.
    With me hanging by my leg, Rican marches after Doodle, stomping the floor around the creature with his massive feet as if trying to crush him.
    Pin’s head snaps up, as other males with him turn toward the commotion and where I swing from Rican’s hand.
    Pin swings his gaze accusingly toward me, like it’s my fault I’m in this predicament, and stalks over to where I dangle. Grabbing me by the shoulders, he seizes me upright and shoves me up against a wall. I cringe beneath the crush of his fingers and the ire in his eyes.
    “I can take it from here,” Pin announces to the others.
    Rican and the others seem unsure as they glance between each other, but Pin merely stares back at them all. I can’t tell if Pin is stalling, or what his plan is.
    “No, that’s al—” Rican starts.
    “I got this!” The authority steeling Pin’s voice is convincing, even to my ears.
    The Payohlini soldiers narrow their eyes, but as if he hasn’t seen, or doesn’t care, Pin walks away still restraining me.
    We don’t get far before a couple of fists come flying our way. I think the punches are meant for Pin, but they graze my chin instead, and I stumble into the wall. Sinking to the floor, I clutch my jaw where it throbs and aches.  Everyone hears stories of the strength of the Payohlini’s. I didn’t realize they really were that strong.
    Doodle comes crawling into my lap, when Rican sends a blow to Pin’s stomach.
    Expecting Pin to double over, I shudder and clutch Doodle closer. I almost feel the pain from that one myself. Even if he is wearing armor, that has to hurt. Fortunately, Pin seems to be used to this, having the wind knocked out of him. He stands perfectly vertical.
    Rage pours out of him, as he and Rican stare each other down.
    Two other soldiers had followed us with Rican, but they turn and bolt from the standoff, as if they want nothing to do with whatever the outcome might be.
    “Protecting the Princess?” Rican asks with a smirk in his voice.
    “Someone . . . needs to . . .” Pin takes a creeping step forward every time he speaks. And then he takes a swing: “From you!”
    Rican brings his arm up and blocks Pin’s blow. Without pause, Rican shoves back at Pin before he can recover, and sends punch after punch to Pin’s jawline.
    Clearly affected this time, Pin bends at the waist, clutching his knees. Rican sends a flying kick to Pin’s torso. I gasp, as Pin drops to the floor.
    Shifting direction, Rican comes towards me.
    I force myself back up against the wall. Panic spirals through me.
    From the corner of my eyes, I see Pin rise. He places a finger over his lips, and I obey.
    Pin glances around and heads toward a metal chair. Rican jerks me forward by my neck, and I swallow hard, but Pin brings the chair down upon his head, and before Rican can do so much as squeeze my throat, he drops to the ground, his eyes shuttering closed.
    Pin turns to me, concern in his eyes. “Are you okay?”
    I blow out a shaky breath. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
    He gazes into my eyes for a moment before he turns away, and I slowly follow behind him as he starts up the corridor.
    I’ve never had anyone protect me before, except for a stone wall that kept me trapped inside my own home. No one ever explained why I