She frantically searched the top blanket to see if it had fallen off in her sleep. When she didn’t find it, she jumped up and scrambled over to her dirty clothes lying on the floor.
“What are you doing?” Rynn asked.
“I had a necklace. It—it was a silver locket. I was wearing it the other night. Where is it?” She whirled on him, desperation lacing every word.
“I don’t know. I have not seen it.”
She groaned in frustration and collapsed onto the bed, her left cheek stinging with the impact. The bandits must have taken it when they kidnapped her, or it had gotten lost in the fight.
The last piece she had of Waylan, gone forever.
Her breaths came shallow and fast as she attempted to force the tears away. She didn’t want to cry in front of Rynn, but her emotional tipping point was quickly approaching.
He stayed standing by the table. “Are you alright?”
Isla rubbed at her eyes with the palms of her hands, then cried out at the stab of pain on her face. She wanted everything to stophurting.
“I’m fine. Just leave me alone,” she snapped, harsher than she had intended.
He didn’t reply, and she slowly tucked herself into the mess of blankets, squeezing her eyes shut as if that could ward off the torrent of images and emotions pushing against her mind. She eventually drifted off, a slight throb in her cheek and wetness coating her pillow. She could have sworn she heard a faint, “Goodnight, Isla,” as sleep overtook her.
Chapter Seventeen
Isla
Islafoundherselfina cave similar to the one she had fallen asleep in, only much darker. Colder. Emptier. There was no fire to keep her warm, and her breath came out in a thick fog around her mouth.
Is this a dream?
“We meet again,” a low voice said from behind her.
She spun and found a familiar man leaning against the stone wall. Tall and striking, he wore the same black clothes as the last time she’d seen him, the same light hair, sharp, pale cheekbones, and devilish smile.
“I’m sure you have many questions,” he said. He prowled around her, a spicy, woody scent enveloping her senses. “I have some, myself.”
“This is a dream,” she said hesitantly, not quite a question but not a statement, either. A cloud of vapor trailed from her cold lips, and the shadows seemed to move around her as she spoke.
“I just came to have a little chat. You’ve caused quite a problem, love. We didn’t anticipate that my abilities would not work on you.”
Her forehead creased. His abilities?What was he talking about?“Who are you?” she whispered.
“I am someone who is finally getting what I’m owed.” He appeared right beside her, and she shivered at his nearness. “You know, I’ve been watching you for some time. When I can, of course.” He continued circling her, occasionally lifting strands of her hair or running a finger along her skin. She wanted to pull away but found herself bewitched by his presence. Everywhere he touched was like a brand on her body, far too realistic to be a dream.
“What you did to those men in the forest? Breathtaking.” He chuckled, and the sound caressed her ear. “You have so much life in you. It’s beautiful to watch.”
“Are you going to hurt me?” she asked faintly, wishing she could muster some of the bravado she’d had when facing crazed thieves and murderers. She hated how weak she sounded, how small.
“Hurt you?” he purred as he grazed a finger across her collarbone, his eyes glittering. “Not yet.”
Her heart stuttered.Not yet. “Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?”
“Nothing. That’s what makes it all so very interesting. You have done nothing, yet you will be the one to give me everything.”
His head jerked slightly and he glanced behind him, as if he heard something Isla could not, before turning back to her. “The other elementals will be coming soon. You are to go with them, do you understand?” he asked.
She stepped away, a trickle of her confidence returning. “No. I don’t know who you are or what you want, but I’m not staying here. I’m going home.”
Without warning, he took a graceful step forward and grabbed her face between his hands, his touch surprisingly gentle on her injured cheek. “It’s in your interest to do as I say, love.” His voice slipped over her, his hot breath thawing her skin.
