I had defied Mathis yet again. Despite what he’d ordered, I’d not gone to WitchFall. Earlier this morning I’d decided that it would be wise to save us both the grief of the argument and just go. But as the evening drew nearer I had two problems.
One: I couldn’t think of a way of leaving my parents’ house that early. I had no plausible excuse.
Two: I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I knew I should. Knew it would taper his fury at me some. And still, I was so reluctant that I couldn’t force myself to.
But when there was a knock only a few minutes past six, I found myself scrambling around the small shelter trying to find a place to hide.
There was nowhere.
And my father was eyeing me as though I’d lost my mind.
My mother pulled the door open and revealed him standing on our stoop. Leaning leisurely against his silver accented cane. His head tipped low beneath the dark brim of a tall hat.
He was dressed in finery. A gr
“Are you going to kill me?” I asked him as the gravel crunched under our feet. “No. Why would you think that?” Because I never know what to expect with you. “You were furious with me last night.” I said tentatively. Recalling how angry he’d looked when he stood in my room accusing me of trying to poison him. How did he know? “I was.” He said decisively. “I am.” “So, what are you going to do?” Kill me? “The worse thing possible.” He said off-handedly. Offering me an arm. Not quite an invitation. I took the proffered arm,with a shaking hand. Glancing over my shoulder and seeing that my parents still watched us from the doorway. They can’t see how scared I am. I knew if they were alarmed, my father would try to stop us. And God only knows what Mathis would do to him. I thought of James in the market. So hollow.
He gave a satisfied nod and held his hand out for mine. “Come.” I reluctantly set mine in his bigger one. His folded around it. His thumb caressing along the back, possessively. A strange thrill flowed through me, warmth at the gentle touch. Appreciation at his kindness. Making me want more. Which only made me want to yank my hand away more. But doing so might shatter this strange bubble of gentleness he was creating. I’d rather stay here as long as I can and stave off whatever awful thing is coming next. Just as we were nearly to the carriage he stumbled and slumped forward. Surprised, I turned reflexively and caught him. A hand on his muscled chest as I steadied him. Frowning. “Are you okay?” His lips curved sideways, and he made it to the carriage to lean against it. Resting an elbow near his head as he eyed me. His face unreadable. He was very good at concealing his thoughts when he wished to.
I puzzled on that question the rest of the way to Kirkin. “What are you looking at?” He asked. “I’m trying to figure out what’s wrong with you.” “I told you. You’re damaging me.” “This is not my fault!” He looked at me unblinkingly. His green eyes suddenly very dark. “I don’t know how you’re doing it.” He said as if dismissing all my objections. “I’m not!” “It depends very much on what you really are.” “I’m not anything!” Just the girl you’re torturing. “You are something...” His eyes narrowed on me. “I wish you could tell me what. I’d dearly like to know.” So, would I! “Is this because of the Twinkets?” “Perhaps it’s something to do with them. But it is more a case of the chicken or the egg.” “What?” “Are you powerful and destructive because the Twinkets are with you? Or are they with you because of that vast power.” “I have no po
We danced for a time but I was hollow. The joy of being here gone as I debated back and forth the awful truth of what he said. Perhaps I do love part of him. But I hate so much more. What’s wrong with me? How could I care for an animal like him? When the night was done, the host and hostess waited by the door to bow to all their guests and thank them for coming. “Lord Burns.” The gracious host beamed. “Thank you for gracing us with your presence.” “And that of your lovely companion.” His short, chubby wife smiled at me. Her expression so soft and full of light that I wanted to hug her and beg her not to let him take me away. But he’d likely just kill them both. “Do come back soon.” The host invited. His smiling gaze trailing to me. “You as well, My Dear.” I nodded stiffly. Unsure what I could possibly say. Mathis put his hand along my lower back and guided me o
The world around us seemed to be slowing. The candlelight from two stands near the bed caused a dim, dancing glow along the walls. Shivering as they lowered and lifted in some freak wind. Mathis was kissing me again. His lips moving against mine and then dropping along the sides of my jaw and down my throat. His nimble hands had released mine behind my buttocks, to work the fine bindings in the back of the dress. Expertly fleeing them as he reached the top and slid the shoulders open. Gliding them down over my biceps and letting the top of the dress fall until it was only the crested peaks of my small breasts that caught the fabric. He reached around the front to give the firmer corset a light tug which had the fabric dropping to pool around my waist. “Look at you...” He remarked. “Like the sweetest offering.” For one harsh moment I thought about snapping I was no offering. But I remembered that as Matthew, he’d yet to be cruel to me. But nake
“Fey?” I’d never heard of such things. What does that mean? He chuckled harshly. “I’m not the only of my kind, Saria. There are others like me. Though not as powerful. Because I learned to shuck my skin and feed on the magic of others who carry similar blood.” “What is a fey?” “A creature constructed of magic, land, and blood. Powerful.” That sounded to me like I’d have described a witch. “I don’t understand why you ‘feed’...?” I swallowed. Finding the word uncomfortable to say. “I have to find others who have the same fey lines in their blood and draw their magic to feed my own. Because as we age, over the centuries, if we do not die and come back, our power weakens. So, I need yours to retain my strength. To keep this shell from aging. To keep me whole...” I blinked at him. Wanting to ask for the thousandth time why he was being kind tonight. But knowing those answers would not change. They haven’
I watched his face. Seeing the raw expression tearing over it as I worked his length in my hands. Feeling him growing even more rigid, though I’d not have guessed he could a minute ago. Staring at his face I considered every moment that had gone between us. Every second from the time he’d risen, steaming from the boiling pond in Warlock Wood and walked toward me. Dark hair slicked back from his face and wrath written over his handsome features to this moment. Him coaxing me. Whispering in my ear, whispering along my forehead. Then every dark terrifying moment in-between and the blinding pain that came when he connected with me. “Are you going to hurt me, Mathis?”I blurted. Making all those haunting visions come to a stop. He tilted his head to look at me. “Give me what I want, Saria? Let me share the parts of you that will give me life.” I anxiously chewed my lip. He’s not reassuring me. “It doesn’t have to hurt, if you
I, Saria, had never been so confused in my life. What’s happening to me. My mouth was moving and my body was sitting over his abdomen. But this isn’t me. She was fiercer, angry and resentful. “She was only so powerful dark because she took over my light.” Mathis shook his head in confusion. “I don’t understand.” “You can’t have her back, Mathis. She’s not here. I banished her long, long ago.” He drew a steadying breath and his head settled into the pillow, his eyes going hooded. “You are strong, whoever you are, I give you that. But you still don’t understand how it works.” “Then tell me what it is I don’t know.” I said in a booming voice that seemed to reverberate the walls. Power I was exuding caused a ripple like gold water surrounded us. The very air seeming in motion. “Meet me there, and I will show you.” He said darkly. Almost seeming to look through me, as if he were looking at me, Saria. “You a