I flushed. The encounter was very… descriptive. I threw a wary glance over my shoulder, making sure Ruby was still at the window as I continued.
The days we had spent coupling had done nothing to diminish his desire. If anything, they had enflamed it. And his obsession with marriage increased tenfold. I had not met his family, but one morning when I arrived at the patch of forest where we met, he proudly presented his mother’s wedding gown, a gift for me. He wanted me to wear it, in our ceremony. I had never actually agreed to the union, but I continuously avoided telling him it was not possible. It would be only valid in his mind. But then again, what would that hurt?
I accepted the dress from him, looking it over. It was poorly made and ill fitting, but had potential as a design. I sat, using magic to work on the seaming and arrange the pearl strands and beading in a more pleasant pattern while deciding how best to deal with him. He was watching me intently. “We will have such prosperity. Think of it, with your magic, we will be able to conquer anything. Whatever we need, whatever we want, it will be nothing but a flick of your wrist.”
I froze. It was irrational, I knew, but anger seethed. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking he was just like everyone else. My powers. My magic. And how it would benefit him. I turned to him, glaring, and he drew back, startled by my sudden, intense fury. “Is that what you want, why you are so intent on marrying? For my power?”
He shook his head, mystified, but regret was still plain on his face for whatever he’d unintentionally done to cause it. The rage had overtaken me, though. The weeks of drugging Rune, sneaking out, my missing father - searching for a new wife I was sure - all of it too much. I slipped. A small crack in my stability let out enough magic to hurt him. I didn’t hit him, but the surrounding trees and rocks were pulverized and I knew I had done too much. He stared back at me… afraid.
I turned and ran without another word. Straight back to the castle, home. In these few short weeks I had started to think of it less as a home and more as a prison. My limited freedom made me ache for more, my time with this human had felt like living. This was wrong. I would return to him tomorrow, set things right. As I ran, I realized I was still carrying the dress with me. I couldn’t understand why I had bothered dragging it along, but my grip on it was tight. I rolled it up, tucking it under my arm as I approached the castle. My prison.
Prison. I pushed the book into my pack and finally slept.
When I woke, I felt better. Stronger. I was hopeful this applied to my magic as well. Chevelle sat quietly against a wall, watching me. He seemed to recognize the change in my mood.
“Feeling better?”
I nodded. “I think I’d like to train again.”
“That is probably a good idea. We’ll be leaving soon.”
I didn’t know if I was that much better.
“Don’t worry. It is safe. They will not attack again so soon.”
“When?” I could hear the worry in my tone, despite his assurance.
“We will protect you, Frey.”
Sure. I may have rolled my eyes.
“We knew they were following before. Our mistake was in assuming they meant physical attack. We will not allow them so close again.”
“So they’re still following?” Panic.
“No. Not now.” He paused. “They have accomplished what they came for. Now they will regroup and return. Which is why we need to move.”
“Why would we leave a fort?”
He laughed. “Trust me, Frey.” I must not have appeared convinced. “Please,” he added.
I sighed. What choice did I have? And then I laughed. I couldn’t even trust myself.
I expected him to look at me like I was nuts. Instead, he looked like it was… endearing. He stood and walked over to me, taking my hand to help me up. When he touched me, I tried to fight the flush that ran up my neck. When I couldn’t, it embarrassed me and caused my cheeks to color as well. I peered up at him through my now dark bangs and could have sworn it amused him. I laughed at myself, the silly romance I’d been reading in the diary must have been affecting me.
I tried to stop my thoughts from returning there as we practiced, but it was near impossible. He kept working close with me, touching me. I knew I should have been focusing on the magic, but it was useless. Each day ended with nothing but frustration and exhaustion, naught to look forward to but leaving the safety of the fort. But the book provided escape…