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A little shocked, and a bit intrigued, I grabbed the hind legs and brought the rabbit over to the wall. Placing the creature on the grass, I tugged on the rope to bring up the bucket then rinsed off the blood from Kelia’s violent skinning procedure. I really hoped she didn’t plan on using that trick on me.
She moved to the firepit which held a spit across two iron, perfect for roasting. Kneeling, she arranged the kindling into a pile then reached into that black bag of hers to pull out a piece of flint.
I grabbed the sharp spit and shoved it through the rabbit. “I see the magi at least trained you to survive in the wilderness.”
Kelia narrowed her gaze at the kindling and began striking the metal to spark a fire. “Mr. Assan taught me every important skill.”
“Is he your teacher?”
The kindling lit and she blew on the small fire, coaxing it into a bigger flame. “Was.”
She abruptly stood, causing me to quickly step back. “I need to relieve myself. Stay put.”
This time she went behind a tree instead of right in front of me.
With the fire now roaring, I sat on the log and stretched out my legs. George chewed on the nearby ferns, seeming completely at ease in the woods. It wouldn’t take us long to reach the River of Night. An ominous path I didn’t want to take, but clearly the quickest route, though I wasn’t sure how she planned on getting us to the underground river.
Kelia sat next to me on the log, bumping her leg against mine. The movement sent a wave of need through me, and I gripped the wood with my fingers. Too many long cold nights in an empty cell had made every nerve supercharged.
Careful . . . remember who she is and what she can offer.
But why does she insist on sitting so close? This woman is not making it easy.
Needing to break the intensity, I decided having a civil conversation was in order. “Tell me, little sparrow, why you?”
I waited for her to scowl or frown, but again her stoic expression showed me nothing of her feelings. “I possess the power to control and protect you.”
“Surely, there are more experienced and older candidates.”
At that, she turned on the log to face me. Her blue eyes held a luminous glow. “Would you like to see what I can do?”
Holding my tongue, I kept my true thoughts to myself. “It’s an honest question. If you know of me, you know I am very capable even without my powers.”
Suddenly, she shoved me off the log and landed on top of me, straddling my waist and glaring. The normally blank expression shifted to something much darker. And yet, having her astride me in such a position did not invoke fear, but something else. She leaned forward, a blue flame in her palm. “So am I.”
She gripped my neck with that blue hand, sending a shock through my body. Realizing my error and the real threat behind her movements, I grabbed her neck in return with both hands.
“Do you think your magic can kill me before I snap this pretty neck?” The sentence came out a bit strangled.
She tilted her head, a curious look in her eye. I didn’t squeeze, but I applied the slightest amount of pressure. My arms rested against her breasts which were much larger than I originally thought. My eyes flicked to them, and I couldn’t stop the longing in my gaze.
In that moment of weakness, my grip loosened, and my arms were thrown over my head with that magical lasso of hers.
Damn it.“My mistake,” I said with a smile. “You are clearly more qualified than I expected.”
Her gaze narrowed and she lowered closer to my face. The proximity and position of her body sent my resolve of repressing my desire for her into the roaring fire behind us. I turned my head, attempting to escape her beauty.
“You are not scared of me, but you shy away.” She pressed against me, examining me like a cat would a mouse before dinner. “You’re bothered by me. Explain.”
How could I explain her legs wrapped around me instilled a vision of lust in my mind? Clearly, the magi did not have the sex talk with her.“You’re heavier than you look, and I’m not bothered by you, I’m your captive, and just like that rabbit you killed, my life and what I want, means nothing to you.”
The magic holding me at bay, tightened, and I gritted my teeth. “If you are done making your point, may we return to sitting quietly waiting for our food.”
“If you wish to have your freedom, remember that I’m in charge. You do what I say without question and when I say it, or I will tell the magi you didn’t fulfill your end of the deal then personally return you to that cozy cell you seem to be fondly missing.”
“Understood.”
When she was off and had released me from that treacherous lasso, I laid on the dirt taking a few deep breaths. I would have to be careful with Kelia. At the end of this journey stood my freedom, and once it was mine we could revisit this discussion without my collar on.
