Tensely accepting Ackerly’s direction, she glanced once over her shoulder to sweep her gaze over the crowd behind her.
Where was Phin?
The cooler air of the night brought her attention back to Ackerly. They’d already stepped onto the terrace and he wasn’t stopping there. With his hand painfully secure around her arm, he continued to stride out onto the lawn.
“Wait,” she finally said. “Where are you taking me?”
“I’m taking you home.”
“My lord,” she began as she pulled back a bit, trying to slow him. Even knowing Aadesh and Iago had to be near, she didn’t want to get too far from the house.
“I said shut it,” he snapped.
The odd tension in him, the burning focus of his glare, the suggestion of violence in his form triggered a swift and sharp response in her body.
Eleanor had never believed herself to have a temper, but it certainly flared to life in that moment. Digging her heels in for the first time since he grabbed her, she retorted, “I will not. Your behavior is shockingly unconscionable. Release me this instant.”
The man laughed and only tightened his grip, continuing to propel her forward. They’d nearly reached the wall at the far side of the garden.
Eleanor panicked. Ackerly clearly intended to take her away. Home, he said, but she didn’t believe he was talking about LindleyHouse. The sudden intent of violence in his manner worried her.
She didn’t even realize she’d glanced back once again—peering into the shadows of the garden, silently pleading for Phin or Iago or Aadesh to intervene—until Ackerly jerked her roughly forward.
“He’s not there,” he sneered, drawing Eleanor’s gaze back to him.
There was anger in his stare now, with a bright glimmer of satisfaction.
Dread danced down her spine. Her expression must have changed as Ackerly smiled again. “You’ve nothing to worry about, my love. Waring won’t interfere in our plans.”
Ice entered her veins. “What do you mean?”
“I cannot have him skulking around, jumping from shadows as we finally begin on our fated path,” he replied almost flippantly. “Waring kept getting in the way. But I’ve ensured that he and his men have been taken care of. You are mine now. And I won’t let you go.”
Terror nearly dropped her to her knees.
He’d done something to Phin and the others. That’s why no one had come forward to intervene. Her worry over their well-being was nearly overwhelmed by the realization that she was on her own. No one was going to save her.
Their plan had failed.
Instantly, she started to fight. With every bit of strength and power and instinct she possessed, she twisted herself free of Ackerly’s grip and opened her mouth to scream for help.
But she was too late. Ackerly must have anticipated her resistance because he was ready for it. A single swing of his fist and an explosion of pain in her temple caused the world to spin around her. She heard a ringing in her head then the ground came up to meet her. As he lifted her in his arms, jostling her about, it took all her remaining strength to fight off the wave of unconsciousness that threatened to claim her.
No!
She had to keep her wits about her and stay present if she was tofind a way free of this madman.
By the time her awareness sharpened enough to assess what had happened, she was slouched in the corner of a closed carriage. Ackerly was seated across from her, his expression full of disapproval.
As her flickering gaze met his, he leaned forward. “I’d meant to present our future in a more palatable way. I’d planned flowers, music”—he waved a hand—“an elaborate proposal. A demonstration of the abundance and beauty and charm that would be inherent in the life we’d finally live together—after so many lost incarnations.”
Eleanor grew more and more concerned with each word he said.
Lifting her hand to her throbbing temple, she adjusted herself to sit more upright, causing a wave of dizziness and nausea. Ackerly’s nonsense wasn’t finding purchase in her brain. She needed to understand if she had any chance of combatting his intentions.
Deciding on another tactic, she forced her tone to one that was less confrontational. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
Shock and anger flashed in his eyes. “How can you say that? Don’t you feel it? Fate.Ourfates. Intertwining once again, coming together just as they should have that first time, before…”
