Chapter 15 What She's After

• Oh, I may. He eyed her consideringly.
• "I'm debating it. The only thing stopping me is that I fear, reciprocated attraction or nay, you'd fight me like a wild animal were I to wrap you in my arms. "
• Her cheeks sucked in. And eyes lit with challenge.
• Confirming his suspicions.
• "With that said..." He tossed the apple in the air and by the time he caught it, he'd risen to his feet in a smooth motion . He crossed the fur rug in a long, graceful stride heading for her.
• "What are you doing?" She hissed. Backing up until she hit a wall. Leaning forward threateningly. Her eyes rolling to blood red as she prepared to defend herself .
• "The big, dangerous animal is coming to get you, Little Harpie." He put a hand to the wall near her shoulder. His fist still clutching the apple as he hovered his body before hers. His lips nearly brushing her ear as he spoke .
• She watched him through narrowed eyes.
• He caught her chin and lifted it with a knuckle.
• Her lip was twitching in fury told Sebastian knew he was toying with fire touching her at all. He could feel the magic rolling off her in wild tendrils.
• "Such a pretty, little, dark thing." He stroked a thumb along her lower lip and saw goosebumps leap on the flesh down her neck. "Would you let me kiss those tantalizing lips?"
• She glowered at him, shaking. Her hands planted against the stone wall behind her as she leaned as far away from him as possible.
• "Mistake me not, Sweetheart. Eventually, I will taste you."
• ***
• "You mean eat me?"
• He chuckled darkly. "From head to toe, My Captive."
• He stepped back enough she could breathe.
• Her body instantly easing as he put a bit of distance between them.
• Interesting. She was reacting to my touch. He could still feel the vibrating excitement of her energy which had coursed from her face to his hand.
• "But for now, I must first tame you ."
• "You'll never tame me!"
• "Oh, I will." He grinned. Happy at the idea of ​​the challenge. "Every creature warms to my touch eventually."
• "I won't."
• "It's adorable that you think not."
• Her hands worked in white knuckled fists.
• "But for now, you'll need to acclimate. I have plenty of time." He turned and began striding toward the door. "Thus, I'll leave you to reflect on your newfound captivity. For I'm certain you' re unused to it."
• He left. Letting the door slam for emphasis, his key turning in the lock.
• He rounded and splayed a hand before the lock.
• Gold flakes poured from his palm to creep in lingering tendrils over the door. Seeping into the lock hole, around the key, to twine along the wall. Swirling in sparkling waves which branched to splay over every crevice of the room until she was enveloped in a shimmering web. The colors faded, seeping into stone. But the cage remained, nonetheless.
• The apple dropped to the floor in the hall. Thunking then grating, as it slid.
• His boots echoed down the corridor. The bit of fruit dissolving in a puff of gold dust which glittered as it faded into the dark floor.
• He headed for the library downstairs. To listen.
• To learn.
• ***
• Elsabet, studied the door resentfully as his steps faded.
• He heard her run to it and try ripping it from its hinges. Closing his eyes, he could clearly see in her room.
• Snarling through her teeth when she couldn't budge the door.
• The room shivered with life.
• Her magic.
• Candles burst into flame with the energy of a torch. Spitting bits of orange firelight before settling into a comfortable glow.
• Stalking the room, made the gray gown swish around her ankles.
• Glittering fingers of power vibrated across the walls and interwove over the window slits like gold spiderwebbing. Blocking every exit.
• "Enchanted the walls, did you?" She hissed. Tossing her arms. "What are you?" She raged. "Lord Bodane my ass! You're no human."
• ***
• Of course not. He thought with a self-satisfied smile.
• In his library below her, Bast dropped into his red and gold brocade chair. Swinging a leg over the armrest. Relaxing To tune into her thoughts.
• She froze. Suddenly remembering before her fall to the pond. And prior.
• Oh good. He settled his shoulders against the cushions.
• "Lord Bodane." She tried the name on her tongue. "I remember you now ..."
• She was thinking he'd toyed at being a charming and infinitely dangerous, as a gentleman. Pretending to be a mere human only hours before.
• "But now I know." She murmured. Her spiteful voice rising again. "I'll shred you like child's play." The fireplace doused in a puff of whining smoke, as effectively as if she'd thrown a bucket of water on it.
• Already regaining her strength. He tapped his lip thoughtfully, as he noted. Her fury fuels her power.
• ***
• Sebastian envisioned her in the chamber above him.
• "Nothing has gone as planned." She paced Muttering to herself anxiously. "I'm failing!"
• Failing at what? Bast wondered. He rolled his eyes upward and closed his lids.Attuning with her mind to eavesdrop on her thoughts.
• Prince Iceron of the Lost Island would soon be learning she'd failed.
• She'd thought it'd be such a simple mission.
• Stealing from me, simple? Bast, down in his library, shook his head. Absolutely not.
• "Go to LandingTown, steal from some mortal, return to the Island with the pendant for the Prince of Air and Darkness, Dear Iceron." She grumbled spitefully. Is she ever not angry? Dear Iceron? Strangely, Bast felt his eyes flare gold and his wolf tense at her thinking of any man as dear to her. He recognized the sarcasm in her voice but still he felt an animal response. A tinge of possessiveness over this woman he hardly knew. This creature I hardly know. He mentally corrected.
• Crossing her arms over her stomach, she clenched her elbows so tightly her fingernails drove into the pale flesh. Red droplets seeped from her arm, but she was heedless.
• The pain only a shadow of her rising ire.
• "How dare you! How dare you!" Her fists turned white-knuckled. Ranting at walls calmed her. She quieted, realizing she needed to conserve her magic for it to regenerate. Palming her face, she rubbed tired eyes.
• She decided she needed to study her enemy.
• Me . He realized. She's thinking of me as the enemy.
• Fair enough. He shrugged to himself.