I throw my head back, swallowing a moan of intense pleasure. My body ripples with desire and need to be even closer to Rune, but I do my best to concentrate on my friends. When I’m able to open my eyes and focus on the gorgeous man, his tattoos are alight and fluttering.
For just a moment, the room around us flickers, appearing more like an old living room than a prison cell. The cot is replaced by an old floral couch covered in soft, velvety brown and orange fabric. The air is scented with something rich and spicy, the air warm and sticky.
Rune’s breath catches, but he doesn’t pop off me at all. Instead, he increases his sucking, and the images around us flicker back to life, almost tangible.
“Gods,” Drax says. “We can see it. It’s a house. It’s… light blue. Columns on the porch. Ring a bell?”
Rune’s eyes shift to me, and I see pure terror in them. “Impossible,” he mumbles with his mouth still full of cock. “It can’t be.”
“There’s a sign in front,” Drax says.“It says…” The connection crackles and his voice breaks up.
“Drax? Can you hear me? Guys?”
The sound of the cell door unlocking startles us. Rune scrambles off my lap and I throw myself into the wall to disappear. The tugging in my chest fades and grows cold, and I know the connection is broken.
Rune grabs his shirt to cover his nudity just as the door opens, and instead of Elvira, it’s the cloaked figure. I don’t know how I can tell, but the person is angry. Rage pours off of them, and I imagine Rune feels it too as he scoots until his back presses against the wall.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
The voice is neither masculine nor feminine, but it is definitely angry.
“I… I don’t know what you mean?” Rune stands, covering his nudity with his shirt and bravely facing off with the hidden figure. “Who are you? Show your face.”
The figure laughs darkly. “You are hardly in a position to demand anything of me.” The figure steps farther into the space,their unseen eyes roaming across every surface. “You think you’re clever, but you underestimate me. You always have.”
Always have? Does that mean Rune knows this person?
“Now’s your chance to prove me wrong, then,” Rune says. “Why won’t you face me?”
“In due time.” The figure lifts a hand, and whatever they are doing causes Rune to flinch as if in pain.
The desire to jump out and protect him is fierce, but showing myself isn’t a smart idea.
“For now, we do things as I wish, and you will just deal with it.”
This is bad. Really fucking bad.
RUNE
The blockon my magic is stronger with this person in the room, preventing any ability of mine to poke and prod for their identity. How are they strong enough to do this? Last time I checked no one alive could face off with me. I made sure of it.
With my back literally pressed against the wall, I open my mouth to say more, but I have to push against the magic. They obviously haven’t detected Atlas in the room, though something brought them here to check on me. They can’t possibly be watching, if they were, they would know by now I’m not alone. But maybe they could sense the flair in my magic when Atlas and I touch.
“What do you want with me?” I manage to ask. “Why hold someone captive and make no demands?”
“In due time, as I said.” The figure keeps themself shrouded, and I sense the magic swirling around them that hides their identity should I get a glimpse of their face.
“Where did you get this shirt?” I ask, pointing to my band t-shirt. “How did you know this was my favorite band?”
“Is it? Just lucky, I guess.”
“Bullshit. I was served gumbo. Another favorite,” I accuse. “Where have we met?”
The figure chuckles, and a tinge of dangerous familiarity tickles at the back of my mind. I wish I could reach out for Atlas right now and get a burst of magic, but that’s far too risky. If they know he’s here, they could take him away from me. Maybe even hurt him. I shudder at the thought. I can’t let anything bad happen to him. He’s the only connection I have to the outside world.
“Oh, Rune, you’re too smart for your own good. What is that saying… can’t see the forest through the trees? That’s you. Blinded by your arrogance and skill, you can’t see what’s right in front of your face.”
“Humor me then and fill me in.”
