“Nothing says captivity like a spa day,” I mutter, sinking deeper into the water until it kisses my chin and bubbles tickle my ears. “Next, maybe a minibar. Or even some music would be great.”
The walls vibrate softly around me, almost like The Keep is thoroughly entertained by my antics. What can I say? I had the choice to be pissed about my own decision or to make the best of it.
I close my eyes and settle further into relaxation. After hours of Malrik’s relentless drills, I’m sore, raw, and starting to think sarcasm and quick wit are the only two things holding me together. Still, I won’t give up. I know I’m close to finding a way out.
The energy I can wield is beyond comprehension now. So much so that I’ve begun holding back in front of Malrik. I don’t want him to see me as a threat. Not yet. I still haven’t gotten him to tell me anything useful about his plans and what his true interest in me is, nor have I learnedanything in particular about his weaknesses. He has to have them. I just need to be smarter. I can’t leave here without that information.
No matter how much I wish otherwise.
As if just thinking about the devil conjured him, Malrik strides into my room without so much as a knock. The moment he sees my bath, every line around his face tightens into cold fury. “How did you getthat?”
I blink at him, more than a little annoyed that I’m naked beneath these bubbles and he doesn’t seem to care about my privacy.
“You mean the bath? Oh, I handcrafted it between existential crises. Thought I’d reward myself for not dying today after dealing with your temper tantrums.”
But also, if this didn’t come from Malrik, then…
He doesn’t seem impressed by my humor. His gaze cuts to the ceiling, jaw tightening. “You do not belong to her, nor does she to you.”
The words aren’t meant for me. He’s talking to The Keep.
The air chills in response—a subtle thrumming that prickles my skin, like the house itself is daring him to say more.
Is this freaking sentient castle on Team Rowan now? If this place can feel loyalty, maybe it can feel mercy, too. Maybe it knows I don’t belong here any more than it does. This could be a game-changer, and now all the little extras within my room make much more sense.
Malrik has had no idea.
That truth makes me smirk, and I can’t help myselffrom suddenly thinking I might have the upper hand here. In more ways than one.
I rest an arm on the edge of the tub, looking directly at him. “You’re jealous. That’s sweet.”
He turns his glare back to me, gray eyes flashing silver. “Get dressed. You’re not finished for the day.”
“Yes, I am.” I sit up a little straighter, mindful not to let a nip-slip happen. “You’ve had enough beating on me today.”
His glare casts about the room, likely taking in my other new perks. “No, I really haven’t, and you should remember that when you get to the training room within the next five minutes.” He goes to the door and turns back once more. “The Keep might have upgraded your room, but I control everything beyond this door. Don’t make me come back for you, Rowan.”
I swallow hard, his darkening eyes turning my skin to ice. I hold tighter to the edge of the tub, and for the first time since coming here, I’m more than a little afraid.
I’ve grown stronger, but I’m still young, and I don’t know nearly enough about magic to outwit an experienced sorcerer like Malrik on my own, even if my power is on fire. I’m not stupid or naïve enough to think so. Hence why I’m still freaking here.
But that little interaction and his demeanor have confirmed at least one thing for me. Prior plans be damned, I need to get the hell out of this place and quick. Answers aren’t as important as my life. I at least have self-preservation.
As soon as I’m alone again, I get up and towel off before quickly getting dressed in another training outfit. Ipause briefly before exiting the room and look up. “Don’t let him actually kill me.”
I don’t know how much power this house actually has, but I’ll use it to my advantage if I can.
The hall lights guide me toward my destination, and when I enter the training hall, it’s ten degrees colder than normal. The air bites like frost, every breath stinging. The runes lining the floor glow faint blue instead of their usual white, pulsing more slowly.
Malrik stands in the center, still furious based on the twitch in his jaw, but pretending not to be. He gestures toward me without a word.
The moment I step through the threshold, energy snaps toward me—a streak of silver light, fast and merciless.
I don’t flinch this time. I exhale, grounding myself in that quiet place deep in my chest. The energy bends around me, curling in a halo of light before sinking harmlessly into the floor.
Malrik’s frown is almost imperceptible. “You’re supposed to absorb power, not redirect it. Again.”
He’s not pleased that I’ve found a loophole in his training. He wants me boosted up with energy, but I haven’t figured out why, and I don’t want to. Especially not tonight when he’s in this mood.
