13
Isaid, unhandme!”
The woman’s eyes blazed with righteous fury as she gripped Wellion’s arm, and her hand blazed with a lavender glow that made Wellion’s skin prickle. A jolt of pain stabbed him, and he loosened his grip in surprise at the magicalattack.
But Wellion was no stranger to magic, and when the woman tried to shove him away, he grabbed her and thrust her through the door to his own bedroom, only steps away. She cried out as she stumbled over the threshold, and Wellion thrust his hand into the pouch dangling in his belt, where he kept a special herbal blend. He threw a fistful of the powder into the woman’s face, and she sneezedloudly.
“W-what is this?” she sputtered, swiping at her face with her sleeve. She thrust her other hand at him, as if she were going to blast him with magic, and those gorgeous blue eyes widened in shock. “Why is my magic notworking?”
“The powder you just inhaled is suppressing your powers,” Wellion said smugly, leaning against the door. He reached behind him to slide the deadbolt in, not taking his eyes off the witch for a second. “I keep it on hand for when Sallara loses her temper. Which, admittedly, doesn’t happen as often as it did when we were kids. She knows better than to lash out at me with hermagic.”
Tariel stared at him. “But you didn’t use that powder on me when I tried to put you to sleep. Why doesn’t my magic work onyou?”
Wellion raised an eyebrow. “You are awfully plucky to think you can interrogate me in my own chambers,” he said. “Who do you think youare?”
“I fully intend to make myself your worst nightmare if you don’t get out of my way this instant,” the womanfumed.
Wellion laughed, taking a step toward her. The woman’s eyes widened as she retreated, and he backed her up against a settee. She really was quite stunning, with skin the color of hazelnuts, silky midnight hair, and curves that her simple dress did nothing to hide. His hands itched to explore them, to take her into his arms and press against her body again, but instead he braced them on either side of her and leaned in just close enough for their breath to mingle. Her chest rose and fell with sharp breaths as she glared up at him, and if she had her magic, Wellion had no doubt she would reduce him to a pile ofash.
But he had the upper hand, fornow.
“I can sense your fear,” he said, running the back of his hand along the soft curve of her cheek. She trembled a little beneath his touch, but did not look away, which he found admirable. Most women would not dare to confront a man who towered over them, never mind a criminal. “There is no need for it. I will not harm you, so long as you do not force me to defend myself. But you must answer myquestions.”
The woman curled her lip at him. “What good is the word of a bandit? How do I know you will not rape and kill me once you have gotten what youwant?”
Wellion snorted, covering up a flash of indignation. “I have never had to force a woman into my bed. If I took you, you would be willing, trustme.”
“You seem to have a very high opinion of yourself.” The woman folded her arms beneath her chest, which only served to push her round, perky breasts evenhigher.
Wellion gritted his teeth against a sudden surge of lust—what was the matter with him? He had a powerful witch in his room, one who could surely kill him once the powder wore off, and yet all he could think about was taking her tobed.
“Let’s see if we can start off on the right foot,” he said in a mocking tone. “My name is Wellion Traize, bastard son of Lord Traize. Who are you?” He held out ahand.
The woman rolled her eyes. “My name is Tariel. I have no family name to give you. And I am here to rescue mylover.”
“And who would that be?” he asked. Was it Sir Raffis she sought? A sudden surge of jealousy hit him, followed by a stupid impulse to kill the useless noble and take his woman. But, as he’d said, he’d never bedded an unwilling woman in his life. And he certainly wasn’t about to start with the most beautiful creature he’d everseen.
“Riann,” she said after a moment ofhesitation.
Wellion recoiled, shock rippling through him. “You’re here forRiann?”
“Yes.” Tariel blinked up at him, confused. “Why is that soshocking?”
“Riann told me that he’d left his woman back in Fjordland,” Wellion said. But had Riann specifically mentioned Fjordland? He’d only said that he’d had to leave her behind, Wellion realized. “So Riann is one of the men who killed mybandits.”
Tariel’s eyes widened, and she held up her hands. “He did it on my orders,” she said. “My men wanted to let the bandits go after they started to run away, but I ordered them all to bekilled.”
Wellion tried to wrap his head around all this. “You’re quite the bloodthirstywench.”
“Only when criminals try to take what is mine,” Tariel spat, her blue eyes flashing. “I know all about your father’s operation here, how he terrorizes the locals into staying silent while demanding tithes from them in exchange for being allowed to live unmolested. How he attacks unwary travelers on the road and takes everything they own. I do not feel even an ounce of guilt for killing those bandits. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that every last one of them had blood on theirhands.”
“We are hardly innocents,” Wellion admitted, wondering how she would react if he told her how many men he had killed over the course of his career. Truthfully, he had lost count by this point. “You must be very fond of Riann to risk your life coming here allalone.”
“I am,” Tariel said boldly, without even a second of hesitation. “You must let him go, Wellion. I don’t know how you convinced him to stay, but this bandit life is not for him. It will destroy hissoul.”
Wellion gritted his teeth. He knew Riann was not cut out for this kind of life—he was a good fighter, but at his core he was too soft-hearted, toogood.
Is that what it takes to win the love of a woman like this?he wondered, another flash of jealousy hitting him. What had Riann done to deserveher?
