“I suppose you make a fair point,” she murmured, and then gave a sigh of disappointment. “I was rather hoping to make some grand discovery this evening that we might have used against Hector. Perhaps even the Book itself.”
“In truth,” he countered, “it may be best if it were to remain hidden. To be in possession of such a tome could mean certain death. Or worse. And we still don’t know who is actually assisting you on this quest.”
She crossed her arms. “Be that as it may, you know as well as I do it would be best if we uncovered it before him. With the assistance of your coven, we have a chance of keeping it secured. Besides,” she cajoled, “aren’t you a bit curious as to where it actually is?”
Marlene could tell the moment his focus shifted, because he scrubbed a hand down his face and offered grimly, “My instinct tells me to go that way.” He pointed in the direction of the right tunnel.
“Lovely.” She offered him a winning smile and proceeded to stride that direction.
He stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Not so fast. We don’t know what lies at the end of this tunnel. It could be a trap, and I would prefer I lead the way in case I need to use magic to fight off a threat.” His gaze hardened. “I would prefer that you weren’t with me at all, but I know there is no way to stop you from following me.”
She batted her eyes innocently. “You are quite perceptive.” She waved a hand. “After you.”
He took the lantern from her grasp. stating “I’ll take that,” before mumbling something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like “irritating females.”
As she trailed after him down the dirt packed enclosure, she couldn’t help but think how thrilling it was that, all this time, she’d had access to a grand secret and neither she, nor Sir Gothry, had been aware of it. When her initial nerves waned, she decided that she would start looking upon retrieving the Book as a grand adventure. She was determined not to allow fear to dog her heels any longer. Once she had the tome in her grasp, she would finally have what she needed to keep Hector at bay forever and ensure that his Dark Lord from hell never made an appearance on this earth.
They walked in silence for some time until Alaric growled, “I don’t like this. I feel that whatever we finally find will be nothing more than a collapsed tunnel. Or worse.”
“Then I guess you should have chosen the other path.”
He spun on her, and she offered a sheepish grin. “I’m just teasing.” When his mutinous expression didn’t change, she gave a heavy sigh. “Can you blame me for trying to make light of the situation? I’m fairly quaking with nerves, but I refuse to allow Hector to regain the upper hand. We have managed to silence him, and I, for one, am pleased by the fact.”
He moved her lantern up closer between them. It cast his face into hard planes and shadows. “And yet, something managed to rouse you from your slumber, and while I would like to take credit for that, it wasn’t me.”
He lifted a brow, as if to make a point, and continued walking. It took her a moment to recover her faculties and catch up with him. “How did you know I had left my room?”
He kept his back to her. “After the spell was cast earlier, I have a certain perception when it comes to you. If I choose, I can even witness things through your eyes.”
“Can you?” Now a cold shiver passed through her. “You know about the key, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
She wouldn’t have believed that so much coldness could be held within a single word, but not only did she feel the anger emanating from him, she could hear the betrayal in his voice.
“I intended to tell you at dinner, but you left so abruptly I didn’t have the chance.”
“Are you certain about that?” he returned bitterly. “Maybe you wanted to keep another secret solely for yourself.”
She flexed her hands at her sides, her ire sparking. “You’re being unfair.”
“Unfair?” He spun on her so quickly that she gasped. The lantern fell to the floor as he pressed her up against the hard packed tunnel. His face was inches from hers, his hands on either side of her head, trapping her against his body. “It’s unfair that I should feel this way toward you when you continuously make it clear that you don’t want my attentions.”
His eyes shone brightly, blue orbs of shimmering light that rivaled that of the lantern at their feet. She yearned to give in to his persuasion, but her heart rebelled against it. “What purpose would an affair serve but to hurt one or both of us, in time?”
“That would only be a concern if you left Rosedale Heights.” He stilled, straightening slightly. “Is that what you’re planning?”
She swallowed hard. “I’m not sure yet. I know I can’t leave now.”
He pushed away from her. “And yet, you will. I can read the certainty in your eyes.” He retrieved the lantern and began walking once more.
Marlene had to hold back the threat of tears as she continued after him. She wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that she intended to stay with him forever, but that would be a lie. She had decided that she would have no choice but to leave, or risk losing her heart to him forever. He was a witch and she was not. It was like trying to plant something that grew in the ocean above ground. Before long, it would start to wilt and die. They were from two different worlds. Their paths should never have crossed, and they wouldn’t have, were it not for the deceit of another.
Alaric might be angry with her now, but he would eventually see reason.
A gust of wind made the flame in the lantern flicker, even though it was completely closed on four sides by glass. Alaric stopped and held up a hand, as if he were listening for something.
Scratch… scratch….scratch…
