by L. P. Dover
“It’s not that,” I lied. “It’s just … I can’t hear Oren in my mind, and it’s a little unsettling. I’ve always been able to hear him, even in the mortal realm.”
Alston shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe your senses were dulled after the potion. I’m sure he’s okay.” Putting his arm around my shoulder, he leaned down to kiss me on the cheek. “Trust me. You’ll be safe with me. I can protect you just as well as he can.”
Forcing a smile, I nodded at him, but I couldn’t get past the lump in my throat. When we returned to the house, or better yet the empty land where the house should’ve been, I was deeply confused. Furrowing my brows, I looked around thinking I’d lost my mind. Alston laughed and moved past me.
“It’s here, Sorcha. It’s just invisible,” he told me.
“How?” I asked incredulously. “It takes a lot of power to work a spell like that.”
He shrugged, but I could see the tension in his face. “I have my ways,” he said quickly. Clearly he didn’t want to explain anymore because one minute he was there, and the next minute he disappeared. I was assuming he disappeared through the front door of the house. Unease flowed through my body. I only knew of one person with the kind of magic that could make things appear invisible, and it sure as hell wasn’t Alston.
Alston and I fixed dinner together and ate silently. I couldn’t ask him anymore questions about the house for fear that he’d get suspicious. It killed me not knowing what was going on. As we sat at the table, Alston watched me with an intensity that had me squirming in my chair, and it wasn’t in a good way. It was predatory and possessive, and I felt like I’d seen it before.
Noticing the darkened skies out the window, I turned to Alston and uttered sleepily, “It’s getting late, and I’m not feeling too well. I think staying in the mortal realm for so long is starting to wear me down.” I didn’t wait for a response, but smiled and got up from the table, hoping he wouldn’t follow me to the bedroom.
I changed my clothes and breathed a sigh of relief when I came out of the bathroom and noticed I was the only one in the bedroom. Climbing into bed, I rested my head on the pillow and closed my eyes. When I started drifting off, the door to the bedroom opened with a tiny creak of the hinges. I pretended to be asleep when Alston pulled the covers back and crawled into the bed. Silently I groaned, and prayed that he’d keep his distance.
His arm wrapped around my stomach, pulling me tight against him. He nuzzled my hair and took a deep breath in, sighing as he released it. His cock was hard against my back, making me instantly tense. When his hand cupped and began kneading my breast, I shifted so he’d lose his hold.
“Are you avoiding me?” he asked gruffly.
“No, I’m just tired that’s all,” I replied, trying to sound groggy.
“Uh-huh, why do I not believe you?”
I huffed. “I don’t know, maybe because you’re thinking with your cock right now.”
Growling, he grabbed my arm and pulled me over to face him. His piercing, blue eyes bore into mine with such raw intensity that it had me shivering. “Can you blame me? I’ve had you to myself for two days and I’ve been trying to be patient with you, considering all that you’ve been through, but I need you, baby.” He groaned in my ear, pushing his cock against my back so I could feel how much he needed me. “I want to fuck you so bad.”
“Not tonight,” I mumbled, frustrated.
Alston huffed and got out of bed. I had to find out the truth before I did anything stupid. Once I talked to Oren, things would be clear. When Alston got to the door, he turned back to glance at me. “I’m going to sleep in another room tonight, but you can’t keep me waiting long. You’re mine, Sorcha, and if—” He stopped abruptly, clenching his fists. He closed his eyes, as if weighing in his next words. “I just need you, that’s all,” he sighed, and with that, he opened the door and shut it hard behind him.
After he left, I waited until he closed himself into one of the other rooms before I allowed myself to relax. Sleep started drifting in quickly and once again I was in the dream realm.
The place of choice was my room in the palace back home in the Winter Court. Inside my mind, I concentrated on thinking about nothing except Oren, hoping he would get the pull to join me in the dream. I was starting to doubt Alston, and I needed Oren to back up my doubts before I did something that could jeopardize my family.
When my bedroom door opened, I expected to see Oren, but was met with the glorious sight of Drake instead. Why the hell did I keep dreaming about him? “I didn’t call for you,” I stated impatiently, even though he was a welcome sight. “I need Oren. I have to know the truth.”
He nodded. “I know you do, and it kills me that you can’t remember what we are to each other for you to trust me. If you can’t get through to him, then you must be in a place where your magic doesn’t work.”
Narrowing my eyes, I asked, “But how come I can get you here?”
He walked toward me. “Because we have a bond, Sorcha. It runs a lot deeper than a guardian bond. Nothing could keep us apart.”
“What do we do now?” I asked, taking a seat on my bed.
Drake came over and sat beside me, so close that our arms touched. I closed my eyes as the electricity sparked between us and his scent engulfed me. I shivered as thoughts of him taking me on the bed ran through my mind. Stop thinking about that right now, I scolded myself.
“My last option is Sarette. With her being Alston’s cousin, I’m sure she’ll be able to give us some inclination where he could’ve taken you.”
“Why didn’t you think of that before? She should’ve been the first person to ask,” I said, glaring at him incredulously.
His wickedly handsome smile was all I saw as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “And that’s what I love about you, beautiful. Your brains with my fierce take on life are going to bring about a lethal Summer Court.”
My heart pounded uncontrollably, and watching his smoldering gray eyes take in every inch of me didn’t help. Shaking my head, I took in a deep breath. “Just so you know, I’m keeping my distance from Alston for the time being. I’m having concerns of my own, and I’m trying to find out the answers, but he gets tense and short with his replies. I also found out that the house we’re in is invisible from the outside.”
“Yeah, and I’m sure we all know who did that for him,” Drake mumbled.
“I thought that, too. However, I didn’t elaborate on the matter since he was already uptight. Alston isn’t powerful enough to have that kind of magic, and of course, when I asked him about it he said, ‘I have my ways.’ What the hell am I going to do if this is all real?”
“It is real, Sorcha. You have all the evidence in front of you. Why can’t you see that? This is one situation I wish you weren’t so damn stubborn. Anyway, this is kind of what happened to Calista. The house she was in was invisible, and she was also unable to use magic in there. That’s most likely why you can’t use yours or talk to Oren.”
“I don’t understand though. Alston and I went for a walk and I still couldn’t feel the connection open up to Oren. You don’t think he has the whole area placed under a spell, do you?”
He shrugged. “Anything is possible, and it’d make perfect sense.”
“Anyway, whatever happens I’m sure I can take care of myself,” I said, earning me a smirk from Drake.
“Oh, I know you can take care of yourself. I’ve trained you in our dreams, except I know you don’t remember that right now. I recall you kicking my ass on several occasions.”
Laughing, I said, “I’m sure it served you right. I’ve always heard you were an arrogant jackass.”
He smiled. “Yes, and you were always bold enough to tell me that, too.”
It was amazing how easy it was to talk to him. I wondered if he was like this with everyone or just around me. “You know, you’re not as bad as I thought you’d be. If this is really how you are and not my imagination then I promise to take back every vile
thing I’ve said about you.”
Laughing, he reached for my hand, and I jumped as the electric shock bolted through my body. Drake smiled and ran his fingers over the scar on my palm. “I’m glad to hear it,” he sighed warmly. “Just be careful. I know how you are and I know you don’t think before you speak sometimes, but do me a favor and don’t provoke Alston. If your powers are suppressed, then the only thing you have in your favor is your fighting skills. I know you can take care of yourself, but the real Alston will show his ugly self very soon and you need to be prepared. He’s not going to sit idly by. He wants you, and it kills me to know that he’s alone with you right now.”
“You have nothing to worry about with that. Trust me,” I murmured.
“I do with my life.”
When the dream world started to fade, I did what I wasn’t expecting myself to do. I leaned over and kissed Drake gently on the lips, watching his eyes spring wide in the process. His loving smile was the last thing I saw before he disappeared from my world.
“Why do you think she couldn’t get to me in my dreams?” Oren asked as we walked through the palace in search of Sarette.
“I think the house they’re in is enchanted with a spell. I told her in the dream last night that the same thing happened with Calista when she was taken on that first night. The house was invisible, and her magic wouldn’t work inside. She seemed to be warming to the idea that Alston isn’t who he seems.”
“I’m glad she’s coming around. Do you think she’ll do something stupid when the truth comes out?” Oren asked, even though he knew Sorcha well enough to know the answer. I gave him an incredulous look in response and he sighed, “That’s what I was afraid of.”
When we reached Sarette’s door, Oren knocked. A few minutes passed by and no one answered, so I did the only thing I could think of and barged in. Too much time had wasted, and I refused to give Alston more time with Sorcha. Sarette didn’t even budge when Oren and I entered her room. She sat by the window, staring blankly at the gardens below.
Oren walked past me and knelt in front of her. “Sarette? Talk to me,” he whispered soothingly to her.
She glanced at Oren briefly before turning back to the window. “My own flesh and blood turned traitor,” she cried hoarsely. “How am I going to face everyone back home? They’re going to treat me like an outcast now.” She put her hands over her face to hide the embarrassment and sobbed uncontrollably.
Oren took her hands away from her face and held them in his. “It wasn’t your fault, Sarette. Alston’s obsession with Sorcha is what drove him to this insanity. Besides, you don’t have to worry about facing everyone at home. You can make a new home in the Summer Court … in Sorcha’s Summer Court.”
Sarette’s eyes grew wide, flicking a nervous glance my way before wiping away her tears. To me she asked, “Would you approve of that, Your Highness? Letting the cousin to a traitor being allowed to live in your court?”
Smiling briefly, I said, “Yes, I would approve, and I know Sorcha will be glad to hear it, too. Nevertheless, we’ve come for your help.”
She stood up slowly, determination in her eyes, and crossed her arms across her chest. “Whatever you need me to do I’ll do. I still can’t believe Alston would do this. All the lies he told me. I must’ve been blind not to see the truth.”
“Well, Sorcha can’t see through it right now either. She’s been visiting me unconsciously in her dreams, and she started out not believing anything I said, but I think she’s coming around. I’ve told her secrets that only she and I know of, and she’s still skeptical. Are all you Winter women like that? When we get her back I’m going to scold her ass for being so damn stubborn.”
“That’s her, and unfortunately, she’s always been like that. I’ve just gotten used to it,” Sarette laughed half-heartedly. “What do you need from me?”
Oren and I glanced at each other, and I nodded for him to answer. “I’ve taken Drake to all the places Alston and Sorcha had often gone to in the mortal realm together. We can’t get a feel for her anywhere and I’m afraid we won’t if what Drake suspects are true.”
“What is it that you suspect?” she asked, looking at me.
I replied, “We think she might be somewhere that’s muted her powers. She’s not able to communicate with Oren so I’m only assuming the place she’s in is surrounded by dark magic.”
“And how can I help?”
“We need to know if you have any idea where he could’ve taken her other than the places we’ve already been.” Oren went into detail on all the places we’d been while Sarette followed along, furrowing her brows in concentration.
Taking a deep breath, she turned her back on me and faced the window. “I think I might know where they’re at,” she whispered. “I don’t know for sure, but it’s worth a shot.”
“Where?” I belted out quickly.
When Sarette faced us, fresh tears stained her cheeks. Her voice quivered when she asked, “What are you going to do if they’re there? Are you going to kill Alston?”
Oren and I glanced at each other quickly. I wanted to kill Alston for what he’d done, and if he didn’t hand Sorcha over then I would kill him. I wasn’t sure what Sarette was expecting me to say, but she had to know that even though she was Sorcha’s best friend, I couldn’t let Alston live for her sake. That might be cruel, but it was the way it had to be. No one betrayed our people and lived.
“I’m sorry, Sarette, but it’s entirely up to your cousin. If he hands Sorcha over willingly, I might consider not killing him, but if he doesn’t then I will fight for her, and he will die.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “Then I’m coming with you. I can talk to him … get him to back down.”
“No!” Oren and I yelled at the same time.
Narrowing her eyes, she pinned us with the most stubborn stare imaginable. It made me miss Sorcha even more, and it didn’t help matters that Sarette had the same long, black hair and body that reminded me of her. “I’m afraid you have no choice. If you don’t let me come then I’m not going to tell you where they might be. There’s still a chance I’m wrong anyway. I only know of this place because I heard Alston talking about it, and I followed him. I figured it was his retreat when he would get upset over Sorcha.”
“It’s too dangerous, Sarette, and if we have to kill Alston you’re going to be right there. Is that what you want? Do you really want to watch your cousin die?” I asked skeptically.
She gave me a defiant stare and pursed her lips. “No, I don’t want to watch him die. That’s why I’m hoping he’ll give himself up when he sees me.”
If Sarette was anything like Sorcha, she’d weasel her way into going no matter what I did or said. Huffing out a breath, I relented and gave in. “Fine! But if you want to be naïve enough to think Alston’s going to listen to you then that’s your problem. If things turn for the worse, you need to stay out of the way. Sorcha’s probably going to be pissed as hell with me for bringing you, especially if you get hurt.”
Sarette shrugged. “She’ll just have to get over it. She helped rescue me and now I’m going to help rescue her. It’ll make us even.”
I couldn’t argue with that. “Let’s go,” I told them. “I have a feeling this will be it.”
I woke up extra early with an idea in my head. If I was surrounded by dark magic then there had to be an end point. There was no way it could cover that much land in the mortal realm, and not give out or have weak points. All I needed to do was sneak out of the house and see how far it took to get my connection to Oren open, and then hurry back once I talked to him.
Quietly stepping out of bed, I tiptoed to the closet. My warrior gear was in there along with my spear. The clanking sound of my armor made me cringe each time the sound vibrated across the room. Opening the door, I glanced around quickly before walking past what I assumed was the room Alston slept in. The door was closed, so I glided carefully away from it, holding my breath for emphasis.
The st
airs creaked as I descended them and I silently cursed the whole time, hoping I wasn’t screwing up my stealthy plan. If I could only get to the door I’d be able to get out. The front door opened silently and I was about to make a run for it when Alston’s voice boomed out from behind me.
“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” he stormed angrily.
Not expecting his furious tone, I whirled around and faced him. He had never talked to me like that, and I definitely wasn’t going to allow him to do it again. “First off!” I exclaimed. “Don’t you ever use that tone with me again. Second, I’m not a prisoner, and if I want to go for a walk on my own then I’m entitled to. I don’t need a babysitter, and you sure as hell are not going to order me around.”
His electric blue eyes widened in panic, but only for a second. He approached me slowly as if I were a caged animal in need of a tranquilizer. I could recognize that maneuver from anywhere. He was preparing to chase me if I ran. My instincts told me to run, but with him inching closer I knew I wouldn’t get far. My time for escape had already left.
When he was close enough, he lifted his hands up in defeat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten overbearing like that. You just looked like you were trying to sneak off.”
I was, I thought to myself, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. So instead, I said, “I was trying to be quiet and not wake you.”
“What were you going out there to do?” he asked, curious.
Nonchalantly, I shrugged my shoulders. “I wanted to get some fresh air and walk around a bit, maybe even practice with my spear. I still need to keep up with my training, you know.”
He peered at me skeptically. “Are you sure you weren’t trying to run away?”
“Now why would I do that? Do you have a guilty conscience or something?” I asked, studying his expression.
He laughed nervously and averted his eyes, a clear sign of lying. “No,” he replied. “I just don’t want you to leave without protection. I think you scared me more than anything.”