AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We never meant to completely break you,” Marquise’s silvery voice was muffled by Scourge’s shoulder. “We were to make you think we wanted to, so you’d find your own way to fight back.”
“That was the favor Rogue asked?”
“He’s soft. I warned him that you would be his weakness, not the strength he hoped for.” Scourge put an arm around Marquise, brushing a surprisingly tender kiss on the crown of her head and eyed the lily earrings I’d reattached. “But he wouldn’t listen.”
“He won’t listen to anyone.” Marquise peeked at me through the fall of her hair.
“And he’d pulled in all of his favors. So he agreed to take my place with Titania, should that event occur. Apparently it did.”
“What does that entail?”
Scourge shook his head. “Can’t tell you what I don’t know, Lady Sorceress. But I’ll let you whip me to try to find out, if you want to. It could be fun.”
“I would, if I thought you wouldn’t get off on it.”
“Pity.”
Rogue had traded this to protect me from these two, to help me get the power and control I needed. By Titania, I planned to use it.
With a thought, I knocked them both backward into a heap, popping the truth spell as I did. Then gave Walter a hand up.
“Last chance to get out of this deal. You’ve seen what they’re like.”
He wiped his forehead, watching the pair roll against each other, laughing and obviously completely turned on by my magic wallop. “Is there any other way?”
“Not that I know of. But I don’t know much.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know. I think they know when you’re ready.”
“Can you make it be sex with just the girl?”
“Maybe. But that won’t necessarily be better—you have no idea how cruel she can be.”
“I’m already nothing.”
“That’s not true. Walt. Listen to me—”
“No, I’m done listening to you. You can’t stop me.” He dashed over, prostrating himself at their feet while they reclined back, gazes hooded. “Please take me. I’ll do anything you want. Just teach me to be as powerful as she is.”
Scourge raised his black-on-black eyes to me and grinned. “Seems like we have a deal.”
*
Marquise and Scourgeoffered for us to stay the night, even winkingly offering me my old room, but I refused and none of my friends protested. Everyone seemed uncomfortable around those two.
Starling hugged Walter goodbye, a move that surprised me. Then, when I thought about it, didn’t so much.
We were a somber group, though, climbing into the glass coach. Thinking of what awaited Walter, what he’d essentially condemned himself to, depressed us all. Blackbird gave the direction for us to rejoin the caravan and I wished the thing into motion. After a few hours, though, I ran out of steam. Apparently keeping something in motion required me to continually renew the wish. I toyed with making a perpetual-motion wish, but worried that it could lead to dire consequences, like rolling us off a cliff if I failed to notice fast enough.
Athena had pried the staff away from me after the confrontation with the monochromatic twins and only the realization that I wanted to smite her somehow, instead of giving it to her, made me release it. That traveling piece of the crystal cave carried a tremendous seductive punch. I really shouldn’t use it too much.
Still, I suggested that, with the staff, I might be able to get us further. And was totally overruled.
“We all need a rest anyway,” Blackbird announced, her gaze brushing over the left side of my face and darting away again. I rubbed my temple, wondering if the ache there indicated the spiraling out of my own silver pattern. The cat inside seemed quiescent, but that could be the exhaustion. My bones ached with it and, for once, I didn’t mind that they all handled me.
We didn’t have the tents or other supplies, but Athena handily built a campfire and Starling set out the food she and Blackbird had packed from the feast leftovers. As the sun set, the night grew colder, the wind picking up and rattling the brittle leaves of the trees around us. A faint howl echoed in the distance and I fancied a black horse dashed across the sky. A chill not entirely from the dropping temperatures sent a shiver down my spine.
