Reign of Mist: Book of Sindal Book Two
Page 19
“Your purpose isn’t to lock the book from the world. Your purpose is to give it to the world as a gift.”
“That book is full of evil, Arthur.”
“Don’t be so naïve, Rowan. Nothing is entirely evil, just as nothing is entirely good.”
Maybe so, but I suspected the Book of Sindal was the exception to the rule. “It’s all a moot point. I can’t even read it.”
“Yet,” he said, sounding so confident I partially believed him. “You can’t read it yet.” His gaze drifted to Lisa, and the edges of his eyes hardened. “Lisa must still be dealt with.”
“You didn’t just find out that she helped me,” I said. “You’ve likely known since it happened.” Then a new thought hit me. “That’s why you felt safe taking me outside yesterday. You knew I wouldn’t run off and leave Logan.”
Arthur frowned, and I knew I was right.
“You want to address it now because it’s convenient for you,” I said. “Because I’m trying to protect her, and you need to one-up me.” I shook my head in disgust. “If this is the way you operate, I will never join your group and I will never read that book for you.”
His reddened face was my first clue that I’d gotten to him. He took a deep breath and pushed it out through gritted teeth. “We shall see about that, Rowan.” Then he turned to the remaining guard, who’d watched the exchange with a wariness that had replaced his arrogance. “Take his body out of the room.”
The guard’s gaze shifted uneasily from Marni to Lisa to me.
“I can manage three women,” Arthur said as though he’d been insulted. “Do as you’ve been told.”
The guard grabbed his buddy’s arms and dragged him from the room, leaving behind a long smear of blood.
Arthur gave Marni an unsympathetic smile. “It’s time to get to work, Marni.”
Her pallor suggested she was in no shape to do anything other than go to bed.
“If you want her to glamour something, I can do it,” I said. “We don’t need her. You’ve already said I’m better.”
Arthur’s nostrils flared. “Leave your training to me, Rowan. You didn’t get very far on your own.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and held out a coin to Marni. “I need you to glamour this quarter.”
Fear filled her eyes. “Glamour it into what?”
“Whatever you like,” he said, failing in his attempt to look friendly.
Lisa helped Marni get to her feet, and it suddenly occurred to me that it was three of us against one. We could overtake him…or could we? I’d seen him freeze that two-hundred-pound guard in his tracks then throw his body around like he weighed no more than a rag doll. Lisa could mostly heal broken bodies, and Marni and I could hide things or make them look like something else. How could we hope to fight him?
I found myself wondering about Arthur’s power again. It felt strange. Off. Phoebe had said that Donall seemed to possess more than one form of magic. Had they used the power sphere for their own gain before Lester stole it?
It didn’t take much thought to realize we could never fight Arthur and win. Even if we did somehow best him, I couldn’t possibly leave Logan, and besides, Lisa had said she was here for reasons of her own. The more I got to know her, the more certain I was they were threatening her to keep her here. I had to figure out what—or likely who—they were using as leverage.
Burying my disappointment and my fury, I walked over to Marni and stood in front of her, whispering, “I’ll find a way to get us out of this.”
Marni’s eyes darkened with anger. “I don’t need you to do a damn thing for me.”
She shoved Lisa’s arm away and stomped over to Arthur. She stared at his hand, unsteady on her feet and wobbly, as they had a quiet conversation about how large she should make the object.
“You can’t trust her,” Lisa said so quietly I almost didn’t hear her. “Her brother is one of the guards, and she practically worships him.”
I tried to hide my shock, worried I’d attract Arthur’s attention to our conversation. “But that other guard hit her. Won’t her brother be pissed?”
“Not if he thinks she deserved it.”
I couldn’t imagine ever thinking my sisters deserved physical pain as a punishment. One more sign of the evilness of the Dark Set.
Keeping my gaze on Marni, I decided to take a chance on the woman next to me. “Have you seen Logan since yesterday morning?”
She was silent for a long moment, and I was starting to think she wouldn’t answer when she said, “He didn’t respond well to you not returning to his room.”
My heart sunk. “They beat him.”
“He’s not a cooperative prisoner.” I heard a hint of a smile in her voice. “But he wasn’t badly hurt. They’ve done worse.”
Arthur looked up from the flower that had replaced the coin in his hand. “Rowan, come examine Marni’s handiwork.”
My stomach knotted as I closed the distance between us. Arthur was almost as much of a loose cannon as Donall, and the last thing I wanted to do was spend all morning with him. Besides, anything I did for the Dark Set, even unwillingly, would just support the horrors I’d been subjected to and had witnessed in the week I’d been here.
“Marni’s not as adept at leaving her glamours translucent, but we’ll give this one a try. Examine the dandelion and look for the layers of magic.”
If this was Marni’s best attempt at achieving translucence, then it was a fail. I reminded myself that she had a head wound. It struck me that while Lisa had worked wonders for me, Marni still looked beyond rough. Had Lisa held back because she was Dark Set?
“What do you see?” Arthur asked.
“A weed,” I said in a sarcastic tone.
“Rowan.” His voice was full of disappointment. “Try.”
Pushing out a sigh, I focused on the flower for over a minute until it began to swim before my eyes. I blinked to refocus.
“What’s the problem?” Arthur asked.
“I’m trying,” I said with a hint of pleading in my voice. “I’ve never looked for layers of magic before.”
“And that’s why we’re doing this exercise,” he said, sounding impatient.
I snuck a glance at Marni, who looked like she was about to fall over.
“I think I’d be able to concentrate better if I could sit down,” I said. “Can we sit at that table over there?” Hopefully, it would keep Marni from falling over.
I gestured to a table close to Lisa, and Arthur seemed to remember that she was still there. “Lisa, you may go check on our prisoner.”
She gave him a slow nod. “Yes, Mr. Potter.”
She left the room quickly, before I could ask if she’d look over Marni one more time. The woman still wasn’t right, and I wasn’t buying Lisa’s excuse for not entirely healing her.
But I needed to focus on seeing magic or Lisa would be healing me too.
Chapter Nineteen
A few hours later, I thought I saw the hint of a layer of a glamoured umbrella. But then it went away, and I wondered if my mind was playing tricks on me. I’d been staring at objects for so long, I was beginning to see double. Either way, it didn’t matter. I planned to keep my progress, real or imagined, to myself.
Arthur must have seen that I was exhausted, because he summoned the guards and told them to take me to the second floor to “his” room. I tried not to get my hopes up—for all I knew, Donall had returned early and I was in for a nasty surprise—but it seemed more likely I was about to see Logan. It was time to remind me of what was at stake if I didn’t follow through.
Relief washed through me when the guards stopped outside the door to the last room where I’d seen Logan. The guards on duty didn’t look thrilled to see me, and I tried not to jump out of my skin from nerves. What shape would I find him in?
They pushed the door open, then practically shoved me inside and shut the door behind me.
Logan was sitting upright on the bed, his hands behind his back.
“Rowan.” His eyes widened when he saw me, and he jumped to his feet, only to fall backward as his left leg rolled inward.
Rushing to his side, I grabbed his arm and kept him from falling into the wall.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding frantic as his gaze swept over me, presumably looking for injuries. I didn’t need to look for his injuries—several new bruises marred his face.
“I’m fine. Really.”
“I was scared they’d locked you up again when you didn’t come back, but they didn’t make me listen to your cries, so I hoped…”
I hated that he’d heard me at my worst. I hated that he’d been forced to feel so helpless. Cringing, I looked behind him to see that he was handcuffed, which only added to my guilt.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice breaking. “You’re here because of me and they just keep hurting you.”
“Rowan. Stop. While I don’t want either of us to be here, I’d be going crazy if I didn’t know where they were keeping you.”
“But you’re here because of me, and I suspect they brought me here now as a reminder to be cooperative…or else.”
His eyes turned serious. “I take it that you still haven’t given Donall what he wants.”
“He’s still gone, thank the gods, but Arthur’s getting frustrated with me even though I think he realizes I’m actually trying.”
His jaw hardened as his eyes flashed. “You’re trying?”
I tried to put up a wall to shield our voices, but the room still nulled my power. Worried that Arthur was listening, I held Logan’s gaze, hoping my eyes conveyed my true meaning as I said, “Of course I’m trying.”
He must have understood because his body relaxed slightly.
Still holding his gaze, I lifted my hand to his cheek, my fingertips rubbing over his scruff. This man had snuck his way into my heart so quickly, but what I felt for him seemed so real. So organic. So deep.
I kissed him, softly at first, needing to feel his lips against mine.
He answered with a hunger that caught me by surprise, but he soon released a groan.
“I can’t touch you.” He strained against the cuffs.
I leaned back and grinned as I slid my hand down his neck and over his firm pec. “I guess that makes me in charge.”
He grinned back as my hand continued its downward trek, then drew in a sharp breath when I pressed against the bulge in his pants. “Not complaining.”
Taking that as an invitation, I lifted his shirt up and over his head, leaving it hanging on his arms behind his back. I straddled his lap and let my hands explore the contours of his chest, upper arms, and six-pack abs.
“I want to touch you too,” he said as he scooted back until his upper back was pressed against the wall.
“Next time,” I said, kissing him again.
He kissed me back as he wiggled beneath me, pressing his firmness between my legs.
Releasing a groan into his mouth, I pressed back, but I couldn’t get close enough. I wanted more.
Logan must have been thinking the same thing. “Let me see you,” he murmured against my lips.
I leaned back and pulled my shirt over my head.
He dipped his head forward and pressed a kiss to the rise of my breasts. I pulled my bra cup down, then rested my hands on his shoulders. His mouth found my nipple and he drew it in, making me gasp as a jolt of need shot to my core.
“We shouldn’t do this,” he said against my breast. “Someone could walk in at any time.”
“They could have yesterday,” I said, freeing my other breast. “It didn’t stop us then.”
“You make me crazy, Rowan,” he said before finding my other nipple. When he had me squirming, he said, “That’s my only excuse… a piss-poor one at that.”
“It’s the best excuse I’ve ever heard.” I rose up on my knees and pulled my pants over my hips.
“Rowan,” he said with growing urgency. “Someone could walk in.”
Grabbing his face with both of my hands, I stared into his eyes. “I don’t care.”
He squinted his eyes shut. “Rowan.”
I squeezed his cheeks until he opened his eyes and gave me his full attention. “Logan, there’s every chance they’re going to kill us.”
Anger flashed in his eyes. “No! I won’t let that happen.”
I gave him a soft smile. “I know you’ll do everything in your power to protect me, but the fact is we’re facing some powerful mages. We may not be able to get out of this.”
“You have to have a positive attitude, Rowan.”
“Believe it or not, I do, but I’m also a realist. We might not get out of this, and selfishly, I want what I can get from you for what time we have left.”
“Promise me you won’t give up,” he pleaded.
I shook my head and released a short laugh. “I can’t give up. Don’t you see? You’ve given me something to fight for.”
He kissed me hard as I fumbled with his pants. After a bit of maneuvering, I got his pants and underwear off, then finished removing my own. We were completely naked except for my bra with the pushed-down cups. I reached back to unhook it, but he shook his head. “Leave it. You’re sexy as hell like that.”
He didn’t fool me. “And I can quickly cover my breasts if someone walks in.”
“There’s that too.”
I straddled his legs again, suddenly self-conscious. We’d been so overcome with lust the day before that he hadn’t had a lot of time to look at me. He was taking in every inch of me now, and while it was stupid considering the situation we were in, I suddenly worried he’d find me lacking.
“Rowan,” he said in a husky voice. “Look at me.”
I lifted my gaze to his.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure what’s going on in your head right now, but I can see that you’re suddenly unsure.” Then, sounding adamant, he added, “If you’ve changed your mind, we can stop. At any point.”
I shook my head. “No. I don’t want to stop.” I was frustrated with myself for feeling like this. I usually exuded self-confidence, but Logan made me lower all my guards.
“Rowan,” he said insistently. “You’re gorgeous. You’re sexy. I want you more than I have a right to, but I can wait.”
“Why do you have to be so perfect?” I whispered before I kissed him.
He kissed me back, slow and gentle, then grinned at me.
“I’ve had plenty of practice,” he joked.
I slid my hands down his chest and abs, then took him in my hand in one long stroke.
He nearly jumped off the bed and groaned, pressing himself into my hand.
“Touch yourself,” he whispered in a husky voice. “I want you wet when I fuck you.”
A wave of passion washed through me as I did just that, rubbing myself as I stroked him.
“Jesus Christ, Rowan,” he said through gritted teeth. I felt him throb in my hand. “You are the sexiest goddamned sight I’ve ever seen, and I’m about to come in your hand.”
“We can’t have that,” I said, rising up on my knees and inching closer to him. Guiding him to my entrance, I slowly took in the full length of him.
“How can you feel so fucking good?” he asked, leaning the back of his head against the wall.
“Funny,” I said, “I was thinking the same thing about you.” Then I began to move, starting slow and steady and changing the angle and speed as I discovered what he liked. Being in control, driving him crazy with want, made me feel powerful in a way I’d never experienced before.
My passion climbed and I dug my fingers into his arms as I picked up the pace, needing him deeper.
I could feel pressure building and I tried to hold back, to wait for him, but a wave of passion washed over me, stealing all my senses for several seconds. When I became aware again, Logan was thrusting hard into me as he groaned his own release.
Leaning my forehead into his neck, I said, “Sorry I forgot about you for
a moment there.”
“Are you kidding me?” he asked in disbelief. “You have no idea how sexy you were losing control like that. I couldn’t hold back after watching you.”
I sat up and gave him a smile, surprised I didn’t feel self-conscious again, but seeing myself through Logan’s eyes filled me with self-confidence. He made me believe I could not only read the Book of Sindal, but also get us out of this mess alive.
Logan turned serious. “As much as I love looking at you, I want you to get dressed. I don’t like to share, and I definitely don’t want those assholes looking at you.”
I kissed him, letting my fingers trail across his chest. I wasn’t sure I could ever get my fill of him. “Okay, but I need to get you dressed too. If Marni gets a look at you, she’ll have one more reason to hate me.”
“Have they hurt you, Ro?”
“No,” I said, climbing off him and grabbing some toilet paper from the small roll on the floor to clean myself up. “They didn’t touch me.”
“But something happened,” he said, watching me carefully. “I can hear it in your voice.”
I stared at him in amazement. My sisters never would have noticed. I stepped into my panties and pulled them over my hips. “Mind games.”
“I think there’s more to it than that,” he said softly.
Pulling up my pants, I lifted my shoulder into a nonchalant shrug.
“Rowan.”
Surprised at his insistence, I jerked my gaze up to his.
“Don’t hide what happened. Not from me.”
I scooped my shirt up off the floor and pulled it over my head, then grabbed more toilet paper to clean him up. “Arthur killed a guard this morning.”
“In front of you?” he asked in disbelief.
I nodded, keeping my gaze down.
“Why did he kill the guard?”
I nearly blew it off, but he and I were in this together. He deserved the truth. “To protect me. The guard was pissed because I’d smart-mouthed him, and he started to lunge for me. Arthur froze him in his tracks, then threw him across the room and into a wall. He did it again and crushed his skull.”