She sits down in the passenger seat of our car and reclines it as far as it will go. She looks exhausted still. She barely got chance to catch up on sleep at the B&B before we had to go again. “I’ll think of something.” She sighs.
I get comfy across the back seat trying to think of a solution to all of this. I check my watch. It’s 3am but I dare not risk sleep in case I lose control of the branches restraining Alistair. It’s going to be a long night…
Chapter 11
I spend the next hour trying to think of a plan but come up blank. Mum fell asleep almost as soon as she sat down. She desperately needs the rest. I don’t feel all that tired myself. The high pulse of power thrumming through me is keeping me refreshed. I glance up at Alistair for the hundredth time. He’s leaning his head back against the tree still as a statue. I wonder if he’s uncomfortable? Not that I really care, he deserves much worse.
As soon as I think it something strange invades my mind. It’s like an emotion but it’s not my own. It’s pain except I’m not hurting. It takes me a moment to make sense of this strange new feeling. It’s Alistair’s pain I can sense. His arms and shoulders are pulled so tight the muscles feel as though they’re tearing. I don’t know why but I feel bad for him. Like I want to help him by loosening the bonds. He turns his head and looks at me quizzically. When our eyes meet something passes between us solidifying this invisible connection.
My mind feels vulnerable. I can feel Alistair tip toeing on the edges of my psyche. I know it’s him because itfeelslikehim. It’s unexplainable and terrifying. He must be compelling me. But how? I pull my eyes away from his magnetising gaze severing the connection.
I breathe deeply and calm my nerves in the darkness. How was that possible? Vampires can’t compel Nymphs. Mind you it was Alistair that told me that and he’s not exactly trust worthy. I risk looking back over to him. He’s staring up at the sky. It’s starting to go blue as the morning draws near.
I get out the car, careful not to wake mum and silently walk over to him. He doesn’t acknowledge me as I get closer.
“What was that? Did you lie when you told me that you can’t compel me?” I demand in a hushed whisper.
He sighs. “I never lie. That wasn’t compulsion.”
I narrow my eyes in suspicion. Mind you if he could compel me then he wouldn’t be in this situation and mum would have definitely warned me about it. “So what was it?”
He finally turns to look at me. He studies my face as if seeing me for the first time. His eyes travel over my body taking everything in. I stay rooted to the spot under his intense inspection. His eyes darken seductively in approval. He holds me in his dark gaze as he bites his lip.
When he finally replies his voice is soft and alluring. “I was just clarifying something. You are full of surprises.”
Everything about him is drawing me in but I refuse to be a victim to his charms again. “I really don’t know what you’re getting at and you can stop with the seductive, sexy act. It won’t work.”
“You’ll soon realise there is no point in fighting what The Fates have decided.” His voice is like honey luring me in for a taste.
I shake my head with narrowed eyes.
“I decide my own fate.”
His grey eyes look into mine. They have a silver sparkle in the moonlight.
“Not even Zeus can change his fate.” He tilts his head slightly as he watches me. “Though if anyone could I wouldn't be surprised if it was you.” His tone is tender as his face softens ever so slightly with a hint of sadness or defeat.
I step closer to him. Close enough to smell his deliciously sweet and musky scent. Everything about him is enticing and dangerous. From his perfectly sculpted body and chiselled face to his mesmerising eyes and sultry voice.
Even though he’s trying to look nonchalant I can tell by the tensing of his neck that his arms are in agony. I reach out and brush my hand slowly across his chest to his left shoulder. His breath hitches ever so slightly that I almost don't notice it. I then trail my fingers down his arm and back up again. I bite my lip as I look up at him through my lashes. He's watching me, his eyes more intense than I've ever seen them. He’s completely at my mercy and I can’t deny that it’s exciting me. I could relieve his pain a bit by loosening the branches but I don’t want to. I can never forget the pain he’s caused me and so many other people.
He’s a monster.
So why is it that my body is betraying me so much? He has me wound up so tight. Half of me hates him and the other half… wants him. The internal struggle is torture.
I’m stood so close to him that as he leans in slightly our noses touch. I can feel his warm delectable breath on my lips. His proximity is intoxicating. I could abandon sense and reason and give in to it. Let his darkness envelope me into oblivion. It would be epic, destructive and exquisite. Maybe even deadly. My lips brush against his as I lean against him. He’s like a maelstrom pulling me in and I don’t know whether to swim against the tide or be dragged helplessly into his depths.
Eventually morality wins and I take one steady step away from him.
“I can’t forgive you or forget what you’ve done Alistair.”
His face hardens slightly at my rejection but I see a touch of sorrow there too
“Neither can I.” He says more to himself than to me as he leans his head back.
He tries to move his arms but winces, tensing his jaw in frustration.
I allow the branches pulling his arms back around the tree to loosen. They remain secure around his elbows, chest and shoulders but they're not pulling his joints to breaking point.
