I turn my head away in disgust but am helpless to stop her. “Don’t. Touch. Me.”
She laughs and immediately drags her fingers down my chest again. “You don’t want me to touch you? Poor baby. You see, I think you’ve grown too comfortable in this frying pan, and frankly, I’m tired of having you where I can’t enjoy you.”
She grabs my nipple and squeezes. I grind my teeth against the pain but also the humiliation of it.
“There is a saying among humans that one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Her red lips come sickeningly close to my ear, and her palm flattens against my sternum. I refuse to look at her, but her breath skates across my cheek as she says, “I think you’ve had enough vinegar, Damien. From now on, you’ll have nothing but honey from me. Honey until you tell me her name. So much honey she may not want you anymore when I’m through with you.”
If I could break into shadow, I would. As it is, my skin wants to climb off my body to escape her touch.
Guards rush forward and pull me roughly to my feet.
“Take him to my chambers and bind him to the bed.”
I thought I was ready to die, but only now do I feel true terror. More than I’ve felt thinking I might burn or starve to death in this silo. More than I experienced telling Eloise to move on without me.
Death is simple.
I have a feeling what Valeska has in store for me now will be far from it.
14
Candy & Shadows
ELOISE
I can’t blame Maeve for being angry. I’m the first person she’s ever performed CPR on, and I’m lucky she didn’t crack my ribs.
“I’m so sorry. I tried to stop him. I did.” I pull the afghan tighter around my shoulders and take another sip of healing tea from the mug she fixed for me. Then I give her a quick explanation of what happened in the dream, but it doesn’t seem to placate her. When she crosses her arms, I notice a slight tremble in her fingers.
“Never again.” She shakes her head. “I believe you. But you must realize how dangerous this is now.”
I run a hand down my face. “Yes. But he’s dying, Maeve. That cell she’s keeping him in, it’s torture. He’s my mate, and he told me to let him die. He wanted me to move on without him. I couldn’t allow him to give up on himself or us. I had to do something. My blood was all I had to give.” Without intending to, I’ve raised my voice. I shrink back with a sigh. “I couldn’t help it.”
Maeve chews her lip. “I’m sorry. I do understand why you did it, but I hope you understand why I can never help you again with this spell. I’ve watched you die now. Twice.” Her voice pulls thin at the end, and she swallows hard. “I just can’t.”
I nod. “I understand.” I draw her into a hug until the tightness in her shoulders eases. “The best part is I won’t need you to.”
She sits back in her chair. “Why not?”
“He told me how to find Cassius. I’m going to go to Chicago and convince him to help us. He isn’t beholden to a triune like Morpheus is, and Damien told me he’s his closest friend. I’m sure when he hears what condition Damien is in, he’ll do whatever it takes to free him.”
She frowns and adjusts her glasses. “When are you going to go?”
“Right away. I’ll try to get a ticket for tonight or tomorrow.”
“I wish I could offer to go with you, but my caseload is out of control. And I still need to follow up on your rejection of your inheritance. The account manager keeps pushing back on my notices. I’m going to have to escalate things.”
I wonder if it’s a good thing that Maeve can’t go to Chicago, considering everything that happened today and all the hours she’s put in training me. She’d burn herself out helping me if I asked and never complain. That’s why I think she needs a break from me. I’ve asked a lot of her lately. Too much.
I owe her one. More than one. At least one for every time she’s saved my ass.
“I’ll be fine on my own,” I promise. “Cassius is Damien’s most trusted friend. He told me in his dream that he trusts him to protect me. I won’t be in any danger. I’ll text you all the details after we meet.”
She nods and gathers her things into her arms. “I should go. You need to rest and recharge, and I need to work. I’ll see you when you get back?”
“Absolutely.”
I show her out, giving her one last hug before opening my laptop and searching for flights.
