“I’ve been true to my word, thus far Spitfire. Don’t press me. Bear in mind that when you lack all honor, all conscience, your word means perilously little to you anymore.”
He’s reminding me how conscienceless he truly is.
As if I could forget…
“Then why are you keeping it to begin with?”
“Such a clever little thing.” He praised. Arms falling as though he were truly impressed.
Though I doubt it.
I somewhat expected some venomous remark to follow but instead he answered my question.
“Because it matters to you. And for now, I like this game as it is.”
I hated that he never gave me any reassurances regarding the future.
He enjoys watching me writhe.
He always left it open to point out that he could change his mind at any moment and simply not let me leave one day.
And as I’d already considered, no one would ever even know I was here. That dark reminder gave me col
They all silenced. And I realized she was far more of a commander than I. She exuded some strange authority that I doubted I was capable of. They were all looking around lost. I pointed to the door. Pushing one girl’s back to get her moving. “Go.” I ordered. The others followed as a cluster. I saw Twinkets buzzing around my head. Tugging at my hair. Seeing that they wanted my attention, I looked over my shoulder and saw one of the huge gray ogre’s stepping into view at the end of that short corridor. Staring at the locked dungeon door with a look that told me he sensed something was wrong. Time stopped as he turned and looked at them. I ripped open the door and sent the girls spilling out like a tidal wave falling on the steps. “Run!” I shrieked so loudly I was certain that my voice echoing up on the hill had to have woke half the village below. But they obeyed me. Hair and skin of every shade and textur
She was nearly whining the words. Though her eyes were huge with disbelief. “How can you be even more heartless than me?” Mathis asked her in his flat tone. “I hate females.” She shrugged. Making her small breasts bob along his elbow. He drew his arm away. “What are you doing?” She demanded. “I don’t want touched.” “You certainly want her touching you! Are you now being led by your cock rather than power?” She spat. “I thought more of you.” He rotated on his heel, and she knew her mistake a moment too late. “Mathis…” She backed up. “Perhaps I should put you in that cage and actually lock it.” She shook her head adamantly. “I do everything for you!” “Do you think I truly give a shit what you’ve done?” Her brows drew together in a blatant expression of betrayal. “It’s not me you’re mad at!” She defended. “It’s Saria and yourself that betrayed you!” She gestured to his length
James hefted me up like one of his sacks of squirrels. He held my mouth so only tiny whimpers could get out as I clawed the back of his hand. Drawing blood. Seeming unfazed, he continued to drag me backward. Straight toward my room. How’d he know? I got my answer once we were inside. The shutters were open wide, indicating my window was the one he’d came through. How long had he been here? The thought that he could’ve been sitting there watching me sleep was unsettling. It made me feel terrifyingly vulnerable. He pushed the bedroom door closed. Hoping it’ll muffle whatever happens in here enough that my parents won’t wake. This is bad. My instincts were crawling. James growled at me. “If you’re loud and you wake them, I’ll rip them apart.” I squeaked. Nodding behind his hand. I could hear the anger in his voice. Feel the fury rolling off him that told m
I swallowed. Feeling my gut drop and my mouth go dry. “Wh-why a-a-are you h-here? We already...” “Why am I seeing you for a second time tonight?” He asked thoughtfully. Filling in the gaps for me. I nodded, feeling like my throat was so tight I wasn’t sure I could get the words out. “Whoa...Let’s see...” He rolled his eyes like a child considering what wrongs he’d done for the day. Except he’s considering what I’ve done... Like freeing all his captives. Except one... “Could it be because all you’ve stolen from me?” His gaze landed on me again. Wide eyed enough I couldn’t read him. His features far too relaxed to warn me how badly this conversation could go were I not careful. “I-I didn’t.” He smirked. A dimple dipping into his right cheek. He lifted the cane off the bed and spun it leisurely as he approached me. I ducked to the side, trying to evade the corner but he tossed the
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
“What about Udora? How did you come by her.” He sobered. Drawing a long breath as he twirled me twice more. Considering how to tell me. I guessed. But he was unwilling to stop dancing. So, far anyway. “She came by me, more or less. Drawn to my dark magic, I suppose. After I crawled out of that oubliette, I stumbled across her. Greedy, morose and feeling hollow, I fed on her.” He quieted. And I sensed there was guilt in that memory. “And then?” “Then she was mine. From that day.” “How so?” “She wanted to spend every moment with me. Wanted to be mine.” “And did you want her?” “I did not. But I fed on her just the same.” “Through joining.” “That’s the only way I’ve learned how.” He said, a bit taken aback, as though he’d never before considered if there were other ways. “It was how Kasha taught me.” “She was wicked.” “She was. But I never tho
When I knocked on the door of the WitchFall fortress, it was with a resolute expression. Mathis ripped open the door as if he himself had rushed to it. No servants. And when I stepped inside, I felt how empty it was. And there was something wrong with him. He looked disheveled. Fraught with worry. “What’s wrong?” I asked. Eying him in his uncharacteristically mussed state. He lifted his chin. His chest swelling. “What have you come to tell me, Spitfire?” He’s prepared to fight. Or he wouldn’t be calling me that. “I’m going to ruin you.” I said coldly. “Then you’ve already decided to refuse me?” He seemed to visibly deflate. I held my silence a long time. Surprised that he seemed so genuinely broken. “No. I’ve decided to marry you.” He blinked rapidly. Tilting his head in interest. “For revenge?” “No.” “Then why would you destroy me?”
Veline caught my hand. Wrapping hers around it and looking at it as though it were a foreign thing. “Do you know, we shouldn’t be able to touch.” “Why not?” “Because I am pure spirit now.” Veline reached out and touched my chest. “While you are still bound in your skin.” Bound. A strange word for it. “You know in this land there are far more creatures than you ever guessed. You’ve been very sheltered in Drimidan.” “I guess I have.” I admitted softly. I wasn’t even sure my parents knew of all the things out there. “There was a time, long ago when the land was predominantly Fey.” “But as Fey darkened some lost their power and became human. Others became twisted and their power darkened to make them other things.” “Like Mathis?” She nodded. “They become what we know as demonic. Or what the people of Drimidan might call a witch or warlock.” I blinked slowly. I’d heard of such things, but they were s
Only as The King of Creatures stood facing me now, did I realize how tall and imposing he was. He wore a masquerade mask over his eyes, which seemed to change from blue to orange like flames burned in them. His hair was blonde and waving back to his collar but as he moved. It shed small sparks at the tips from the tresses that hung loosely over his forehead. He was lean and tall. Towering well above me like one of the trees in this forest. The strangest man I’d ever seen. “They brought you here?” “They summoned me, yes.” He nodded toward Veline. “They advise me you’ve discovered the root of evil in Drimidan.” “Yes…” I said slowly. Mathis. “Tell me what he is?” “I don’t know for sure…He was once a man but now a demon.” “A form of changeling then…Hmm.” He murmured thoughtfully. “Well now that we know, killing him should be easy enough. We’ll just need you to get me into the fortre
“Because of Kasha?” He lowered his head in admonition. His hands linked behind his back. To keep from touching me? I wondered. “Despite all I’ve done, I have deep respect for you, My Spitfire. And ultimately, I wish to see your laughter return. And that is what I’d spend the rest of my days striving for. But if away from me, is how you can regain it, then that too I’d learn to appreciate.” “You’re so contrary. A moment ago you were declaring I’m yours. Now you say I have a choice.” “You’ve always had a choice. Even when you believed Udora was at my mercy. You had the choice of forsaking her.” “That wasn’t an option.” “Not with you. Just because it wasn’t an acceptable choice, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. But,” He lifted his finger. “I do caution you, you can’t change me, Sweetheart.” “You just said you have changed!” He smiled almost sadly. “I have. Because I wished to change, to become something more
He dressed in more finery. Smoothing his black hair back into a tether and wearing a cream undershirt with a silver vest and long overcoat. Once dressed, he offered me his hand. “Let’s get you home.” I took it. Wondering why it felt like every time I took it, I was making some kind of promise to him. Vowing to trust him, when I should not… Blowing a relieved breath, I let him help me into the carriage. Relieved to see the driver sitting atop the bench this time. He’s making an effort at normalcy. We took the winding drive down the hill and into the village. Quickly arriving at my house. I blew a steadying breath. Letting him help me down from the carriage. “Are you ready?” He tucked me under his arm. “To be home?” I peered up at him. But he wasn’t acknowledging me as he kept me sheltered next to him and we headed for the front door. Mother rushed out and embraced me. “Dear Heaven! You’re okay.”
Mathis made almost no sound. Barely the flutter of clothing and I saw his feet leave the floor as he must’ve leapt. I heard a thump and a horrible wet, wrenching sound. Next was the sopping thunk of a head lolling along the stone floor. The grip on my neck went slack. Dark nails slipping from the wounds they’d created as the heavy body collapsed next to me. Headless. I screamed. Leaping to my feet in panic. By the time I managed to scramble to my feet, he was already there. Eerily still in that way that only he could master. Where he only watched my skittering movements with those intelligent green eyes. But once I steadied myself on swaying legs, his hands snatched out to catch my upper arms. Jerking me against him as he wrapped sheltering arms around me. “What did you do to her?” “Killed her.” “Her head.” “Parted from the rest of her.” He said flatly. I flinched and tucked my face into
“Why did you bring me here?” I swallowed the pain rolling through me. He’d said he’d break me. Now he’s perilously close. I felt weak, betrayed and entirely alone. The two people I’d thought closest to me were both traitorous wretches. “I should think that painfully clear.” Udora said snidely. Taking another step towards me. “Enough, Udora!” Mathis put up a staying hand but she continued speaking spitefully. “The demon thinks he loves the girl...And that she might ever love him back.” “Shut up!” He roared. “He wants you to know what I am. So he’s the one you trust.” “That’s only partly true.” He approached in several strides to catch her arm. Pulling her further back from me. As if he’s worried what she might do. “I wanted you to know what you’ve really been so loyal to.” “Why?” “Because, though I have never denied I’m harmful I thought
I froze in the blackness. Horrified that I was trapped. “Come on.” I could hear amusement in his voice and realized he was right next to me. He closed the door as he came down behind me. He knows I was petrified. He caught the back of my arm and held on as we went down the stairs, as if worried I might trip. I called him out. “Is that so I won’t fall or run?” “Both.” “Mathis?” I heard Udora’s soft voice calling. “Is that you? You’ve left me down here far too long this time!” She sounded annoyed. I paused on the steps in confusion. What’s she mean by that? Mathis turned his hand, I could just barely see the outline of it in the dark. A cool green flame burst to life and stretched aobut a foot up from his palm. Illuminating his features. He put a finger to his lips to indicate I should be quiet. I gave him an incredulous look. Wondering why I would obey him now.