Worthy of Magic (The Ancient Magic Series Book 4)

by Stephany Wallace

  “Are you okay?”

  She asked, and I took a deep breath, cupping myself firmly and willing my body to calm. I could not be this careless. Lia had nowhere else to stay, which meant spending a lot of time with me. I had to keep myself in check. I was a rational man not an animal after all.

  "Yeah," I faked a yawn. "I'm just drained, and I have an early day tomorrow. Goodnight, Lia."

  “Goodnight, Chewie.” I frowned at the nickname and looked over my shoulder to see her getting under the sheets. “Um, sorry to bother you but how do you turn off those blue flames?” She asked, referring to the magical fire torches on the walls.

  I smiled. "They are fueled by magic. The fire will extinguish itself once you go to bed."

  "Shut up! Really?" She sounded amazed.

  "Yes. Try it, and you'll see."

  My gaze followed her movements as she pulled the sheets up, covering herself and placed her head on the pillow. The moment she did the flames slowly died, leaving the room in darkness.

  “Holy Shit!” I laughed. “Sorry. Goodnight, Chewie.”

  “Goodnight, Lia.”

  I woke up to screams and desperate cries surrounding me. The room was pitch black, which meant it was the middle of the night, but I immediately reacted. In one fluid motion, I stood reaching for my swords as my heart thundered in my ears. The image of the huts on fire the night the Romans had attacked our village in Anglesey blinded me. The cries were the same. I whirled around, swinging my swords ready for battle, the movement ignited the blue fire torches, and as the room became clear once again, I noticed I was standing in front of my bed. The screams returned and I realized to my dismay that they came from Lia. Her body was in the middle of the bed as she shook. Her lids were closed, yet her face was etched with terror and pain. Throwing the swords aside I rushed to her side.

  “Lia, are you ok? What’s happening?”

  She didn't answer, and I wasn't sure she could. Her desperate cries continued, but I couldn't understand what she was saying. Her sobs were cutting up the words. Fear suddenly flowed through me. There was only one thing that could cause this kind of reaction here. I flung the sheets away from her and nervously checked her body to make sure she hadn't been bitten by anything. I was certain nothing could penetrate the wards of the village, but there were several dangerous insect species in the rainforest; deadly ones and I couldn't explain her behavior any other way. I lifted her camisole, my gaze not focusing on her naked body underneath but urgently searching for the puncture wound. If it were what I suspected, the wound would be black by now, and she only had a few minutes left. My hands anxiously flew over her skin, her arms, her breasts, her torso, her legs. I stopped, my eyes widening. Her legs. There were red marks all over them. Scratches. A few had droplets of blood on them. She screamed once again, and her hands went to her thighs frenziedly rubbing them, her long nails accidentally scratched her skin.

  “Lia, stop.” I lowered her camisole and gripped her arms. Her body began to buckle in my hold.

  "No! What are you doing? Let me go, you bastard. Let me go!" My heart started slamming against my chest as her words became clear. I would never hurt her.

  “Lia I’m not going to do anything to you. I’m sorry I just…”

  "No, don't. Please don't!" She screamed and sobbed. "Felix, please help us, please!"

  I paled, and my blood chilled as I realized what was happening. It was a nightmare. She was reliving what the Romans had done to her. I blinked out of the shock, rubbed my hands over her arms, and called her name. I had to wake her from the nightmare.

  “It’s not real, Lia. Open your eyes.” I cupped her face, lightly patting her cheek to bring her back to the present. Her tears fell over my skin, burning me while she shook. I hated this. “I’m here with you, Lia. You are safe. It’s not real.”

  Nothing. She couldn’t wake up.

  I slapped her as gently as I could to bring her back. It didn't work. Hating myself for it, I tried again, putting more strength into the slap. She was hysterical, and it was the only way, but I still hated doing it. The smack resounded in the night, and her eyelids flew open. She looked at me with wide eyes, filled with agony and horror. She was gasping for air.

  "I'm sorry, Lia. I had to wake you up." I reached for her, but she scrambled away from me, terrified. "It's me, Art. You had a nightmare, Lia. You are with me, in my hut. Safe."

  I added quickly, hoping she could realize what I was saying was true. Lia blinked as though to clear her vision and looked around her, but I knew she couldn't really see anything. Her gaze returned to me, and she shut her eyes, tears spilled from them. I reached for her again, and she flinched when my hand cupped her cheek, but she didn't pull away.

  “It’s me, Art. You are safe.”

  Her eyes opened and settled on mine. I breathed when I saw her focus on me. I pulled her into my arms, and she clung to me. Lia's body shuddered in my hold with each heart-wrenching sob that escaped her. Wrapping her arms tightly around me, she hid her face in the curve of my neck and cried. I embraced her so fiercely that I thought I might not let her breathe, but she hung on to me with the same intensity. Seeing her in this condition was tearing through me. Only a few hours ago she had been laughing and flirting with me, and now… holding her in place, I laid down on the bed, covering our bodies with the sheet. My hand began to caress her back soothingly over and over again. Her tears fell, searing my skin on their way down. I dropped gentle kisses on her temple.

  “Shhhh, it’s ok, Lia. You are safe here. It’s ok. I’ll protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I promise.”

  * * *

  The sunrays filtering through the shutters hit my eyes making me cringe. I had probably left the damn things open again. Shutting my lids tightly, I shifted my face on the pillow avoiding the light.

  The warmth of Seima's body against mine suddenly spread over my skin. She was plastered to me. Her back pressed against my chest, her ass deliciously resting on my shaft, my arms around her, and my hand cupped her beautifully full breast. I hummed kissing her neck as my hand gently massaged her breast. A soft moan escaped her, although she was still asleep. I could feel her relaxed nipple on my palm, and it was pure bliss. I instantly responded to her, hardening on her ass. Her gluts nestled me snugly. I wanted her, good thing she never said no to me loving her. I pressed my hardened body to her feeling my pants restrict the movement.

  Why the hell was I wearing pants when I was in Seima’s bed?

  I frowned. This didn't feel like Seima's bed. I forced my eyelids open and looked around the room. It was my hut. Seima had never stayed the night in my hut. My eyes fell on the back of her head, and I froze. Hazelnut brown hair rested on the pillow. The memories rushed to me as sleep finally left me. Shit. Shit. SHIT. This wasn't Seima. It was Lia. My eyes widened as I realized my hand had sneaked under her camisole and it was her breast I had massaged. My hand squeezed. What the fuck? I needed to let go, not squeeze it. Shit. Panic gripped me if she woke up and realized I was touching her this way she was going to kill me. Not to mention what Cyn and Bri would do to me. Maybe I was an animal after all. I slowly pulled my hips away from her, and she stiffened. Shit. My heart slammed against my chest as I pray to the Goddess that Lia hadn't woken up. I remained still, and silently cursed when I realized my hand was still cupping her bare breast. A few seconds passed, but she didn't move, I sighed in relief thinking I was out of hot waters. Now I just needed to let go of her and get the hell out of my bed.

  “Are you done groping me yet?”

  "Shit!" I said, and we both scrambled out of bed in opposite directions.

  "What the hell is wrong with you? You pervert!" She flung a pillow at me, and I ducked.

  “I’m sorry, Lia. It’s not what you think, I promise.”

  “The hell it isn’t!” She threw the other pillow and reached for the brush she had left on the table.

  “I swear, I wasn’t trying to grope you. I was asleep and confus..." The brush nearly hi
t my head, cutting up my words. "Damn it, woman. Let me explain!"

  She crossed her arms over her chest and pinned me with a murderous glance. "Fine, explain that!" She pointed at my crotch, and I cupped myself avoiding a shoe that flew towards me.

  "Ok, so I was groping you, but only because I didn't remember it was you in my bed. I swear. I was still groggy from sleep, and I thought you were someone else. I'm so sorry."

  Her chest rose and fell sharply as she looked at me. I could see her eyes focused as she thought about my explanation but she didn’t buy it.

  “Get out!” She yelled, stomping towards me.

  “What?” I asked, startled. “Ouch!” She gripped my ear and pulled me towards the door. “Ouch, ouch, ouch.”

  “I said get out!”

  “But this my hut.”

  “Get out!” She opened the door and tossed me outside.

  What the fuck? I asked myself as she slammed the door in my face. "Damn it!" I turned around and froze. Half the village was already up, and they were all pretty much staring at me. "Blessed morning to you," I said smiling and waved. A woman took one look at me and gasped. Shit. I cupped my crotch. Why the hell was I still hard? I whirled around and swiftly knocked on the door. "Lia, open the door now." I looked over my shoulder and saw the women gathered outside a hut, whispering, and chuckling as they looked at me. My hand began to bang on the wood. "Lia! This is my hut, damn it!"

  The door flew open, and I stumbled forward almost face planting the floor. Her laughter resonated in the air as I regained my balance.

  “I’m glad you are amused,” I said pissed, walking past her.

  Her laugh became louder. I turned to face her and tried to contain the smile taking hold of my lips. I guess it was funny. I chuckled.

  "I'm sorry, Lia. I really did confuse you with somebody else. It was the first time you stayed here, and I was half asleep." I sighed, I didn't want anyone to know about my relationship with Seima, but Lia deserved the truth, and honestly, I didn't see another way out of my predicament. "I thought you were Seima."

  I waited for her reaction, hoping she would be comforted by it, and realize I wasn’t a pervert. Her eyes filled with understanding.

  “You are dating Seima?”

  I nodded. "I have been for years now, and sometimes I stay the night at her place. When I woke up, and felt you in my arms I just assumed it was her. I am truly sorry.”

  Lia sighed. “I guess I can understand how you could get confused. I mean, being used to sleeping with someone, and all.” I nodded. “Ok, I forgive you. Let’s just forget it happened.”

  I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “Thank you, Lia. The last thing I want is for you to have that impression of me. I swear I’m not that type of man. Actually…” I added hesitantly. “Our relationship is private, and no one knows about it. I would appreciate if it remained that way.”

  She nodded. “I can keep a secret.” Her eyes suddenly filled with confusion as she looked at me. “Why were you on the bed anyway? I thought you had taken the sofa.”

  My breath caught. Did she not remember what happened?

  "You don't remember?" She frowned and crossed her arms again, but this time they wrapped around herself protectively. She shook her head. "You had a nightmare," I explained and walked closer to her, feeling the urge to hug her. "You woke up in the middle of the night, crying," I added in a soft voice and reached for her, slowly pulling her to me. She let me. Enfolding her in my arms, I cupped her head guiding it to my chest. "You were distraught, trembling and you seemed in a lot of pain. I woke up to help you break the nightmare, and climbed in bed with you until you calmed down. You fell asleep in my arms." She sniffled, and I knew she remembered. Her tears were sliding down my chest. My heart ripped when I remembered the scratches. "Come here." I gently pulled her to the bed and helped her sit down. "We need to heal your legs."

  She frowned as I slowly lifted her camisole to her thighs. Her hands cupped her mouth as more tears fell from her eyes. She shut them tightly, and I knew the scratches had brought the image of the slices on her skin to the surface.

  "Did I do that to myself?" She asked in between small sobs, and I pulled her into my arms once again, sitting beside her.

  "Not on purpose. You were rubbing your thighs, and your nails accidentally scratched the skin." I lifted her chin so I could see into her eyes, the pain was vivid in them. “Don’t cry, Bòidheach," I whispered wiping the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs as I cupped her face. "Please," I begged.

  She took a ragged breath looking up at me. “What does that mean?”

  I smiled. “Beautiful.”

  She blushed. "You are not going to grope me again, are you?" My eyes widened, but hers filled with amusement. I liked her spirit.

  “Absolutely, but only if you grope me too.”

  “Deal.”

  We laughed, and I kissed her cheek. "I'm going to get my brother so he can heal your legs ok? I'll be right back."

  She nodded and wrapped her arms around herself the moment mine left her. I sighed and reached for the stones, opening the portal.

  “Art.”

  I looked over my shoulder at her. “Yes?”

  “Can you please make sure Bri doesn’t find out? I don’t want anyone to know.”

  My heart constricted at the vulnerability and shame in her eyes. She had no reason to be ashamed. They had done this to her. She hadn't deserved it. I nodded.

  “Lia, you are safe here. There is no reason for you to be afraid. You are under my care now, and I will not allow anyone to hurt you. I will protect you. I promise.”

  She nodded but the relief I wanted to see in her eyes, never came. Offering her a small smile, I crossed into Cyn’s hut.

  CHAPTER 2. HIDDEN DEMONS

  * * *

  Day 5 with Art…

  The light of the lamp above us reflected on the scalpel, giving it an eerie glow as Julius lowered it towards my thigh. I was consumed with the feel of the burning and sharp shooting pains from the open slices he had already made on my skin. The blood freely flowed from my wounds, dripping on to the floor and pooling underneath the chair. His rubber gloves slipped from my thigh when he tried to grab me to make the new incision, but that didn't stop him, and I was afraid nothing would.

  Bri's desperate pleas for Julius to stop torturing me died on her lips as the guard crashed his fist against her cheek. Marcus was gone, but the guard had resumed beating her up in his absence. Her face was swollen and unrecognizable. Her eye was a purplish blue and swollen shut, and her lips were ripped from the assault she was suffering.

  “No!”

  I screamed in horror as her chair flew back from the force of the impact and she fell, hitting her head on the concrete floor. She didn't move as the blood began seeping from the new wound her head had suffered. They were going to kill us. I had no doubt of that. I screamed again bucking against the chair and feeling my skin rip even further with each jerk of my body. I blinked the tears away focusing my gaze on Bri. Her still form broke my heart. Maybe she was already dead. No one could endure that much. My lips opened in a silent scream as the scalpel carved my leg. The air lodged in my throat and time might have as well stopped. Black spots appeared in my vision as I fought for air. Suddenly my airways opened and the loud sound of my gasp resounded in the small room… followed by the ear-splitting scream I had repressed.

  The door opened, and my gaze flew to it as another frenzied cry left my lips. One, for every cut. Felix stopped in his tracks when his gaze landed on Bri. He swiftly looked over her, and his eyes widened once he took in my appearance. I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take before I begged them to kill me. Before that happened, I could try one more time to save our lives.

  "Felix, please help us! Please!" I sobbed, looking straight into his eyes. "Please, Felix. Stop them, please!" His eyes filled with horror and pain but he didn't do anything. How can he not do anything?? He was a spoiled, rich, brat, but he wasn't a
monster. "Please." The last shred of hope I had, disappeared when Marcus pulled Felix out of the room and closed the door. My gaze returned to Julius, who had a macabre smile on his lips. He winked at me and plunged the scalpel deeply into my skin.

  “Aahhhhhh!!”

  * * *

  “Lia, wake up! It’s not real. You are no longer there. Please, wake up.”

  The man's voice was desperate and filled with pain as it filtered through my screams. It was faint at first, but it slowly became stronger as he continued to call my name.

  “Please, Lia. Wake up. It’s me, Art. You are safe with me. It’s not real. You are here with me.”

  Strong arms wrapped around me, but they were no longer holding me down against the chair. These were warm, and gentle, although they held me fiercely to him. The cold air from the cave slowly disappeared as his hands rubbed my arms and back comfortingly. His soothing words continued, until they were all I could hear. My screams didn't float around us anymore.

  “You are safe. I won’t let anyone hurt you. I’ll protect you, Lia. I promise.”

  I fought to lift my eyelids, and the image of Julius began to fade, in its place powder gray eyes appeared. They shone with emotion and filled with pain. I knew those eyes.

  "Art?" I asked, afraid I was wrong, and I was still stuck in the cave at Julius' mercy.

  “Yes, Bòidheach. It’s me. You are safe with me.”

  I was finally able to breathe, as his words sunk. He was right. I was safe with him. I threw my arms around his neck, and clung to him as the sobs took over, shattering me. If possible, his arms tightened even more on me, and he pulled me so close I could feel the thundering beating of his heart against my chest.