Chapter Nineteen Riela
Chapter Nineteen
Riela
Once the need to escape receded enough that I could think instead of mindlessly run, I realized I wasn’t on my floor of the
castle. First, it was actually clean, and second, it was far nicer than my level. There were paintings on the walls and a
thick carpet runner stretched to the end of the hall.
Curiosity and caution fought. I must’ve climbed past my landing, but if I wasn’t supposed to be here, the castle would’ve
kept me out, right?
Then again, the castle hadn’t exactly helped with keeping me out of trouble, so perhaps this was just another test. One I
had no desire to fail.
I’d taken precisely one step back down the stairs when a wave of moonlight pulsed somewhere below me. The hair on my arms
lifted as I remembered Garrick’s wild, dangerous smile.
“Do you think he’s following?” I whispered to Grim. The wolf had stayed glued to my side after I’d nearly tripped over him.
Grim chuffed, and I decided it was an affirmative. Could I make it down to my room before Garrick caught me?
And, more importantly, did I want him to catch me?
I didn’t think he’d hurt me, but there had been an intensity in his expression that made me think this was more than the simple
game of hide-and-seek I’d been planning. I felt like the legends I’d remembered might have left out an important detail or
two—or ten.
The memory of that predatory look propelled me back into the hallway. I opened the first door I came to. Inside was a small
parlor with a couch and a few chairs. “Please take me back to my room,” I murmured to the air.
I stepped through the door and nothing happened.
“My room,” I tried again, stepping out of the parlor.
I remained in the luxurious hallway that definitely wasn’t mine. Fine, if the castle wasn’t going to help, then I’d just have
to hide and wait for Garrick to pass. Once he was gone, I’d sneak back down to my room the normal way, with my own two feet,
and pretend this had never happened.
The parlor was too obvious and with too few hiding spots, so I needed a different room. I delved deeper down the hall.
This was the first time the castle had allowed me to see this floor, but I couldn’t even savor it because I needed to find
a place to hide. I glanced at each door, looking for something, anything to give me a clue what lay behind, but they all looked
the same.
When I heard footsteps echoing up from the stairwell, I dove into the nearest room. It was a bedroom, and I froze in the doorway.
A huge bed dominated the far wall, but there was also a slightly messy desk, a small sitting area, and two doors. The furniture
was made from the same dense black material as the front doors and the desk in Garrick’s study, while all of the curtains
and bedding were a silver-white shade reminiscent of moonlight.
There were enough personal items scattered around for me to make an educated guess: this was Garrick’s bedroom.
I could feel his magic approaching, but I’d risk getting caught in the hallway before I trapped myself in his bedroom.
I eased the door closed then dashed to the next one. Another bedroom, but this time the color scheme was reversed—the furniture
was moonlight silver, while the fabrics were a blue so deep it was nearly black.
I paused in shock. Was Garrick married? He’d sent his people to safety; had he sent his spouse, as well?
Grim nudged my leg, and I slammed the door closed with too much force. My thoughts whirled, and suddenly, this game didn’t
seem so fun.
I turned back to the stairs, but I’d only made it a few steps when Garrick appeared on the landing, his gait almost leisurely.
I wanted to freeze like a rabbit at the expression on his face, but I raised my chin and marched toward him. We met halfway.
His smile was vulpine. “It seems I’ve caught you, little ma—”
“Are you married?” I demanded, cutting him off. Grim was beside me, and I buried my free hand in his fur to hide its trembling.
I had no doubt that the magical wolf wasn’t really on my side, but I’d take the illusion for as long as it lasted.
Garrick tipped his head to the side, a quizzical look on his face. “No, why do you ask?”
“Betrothed? Promised? In love?” I pushed. He’d said words mattered to Etheri, and I didn’t want him to be able to lie by omission.
Garrick’s face shuttered and my heart sank. He leaned toward me, and I held the useless cake plate in front of me like a shield.
I hadn’t abandoned it in my initial flight, and then it had seemed rude to leave it somewhere it might attract rodents. Now
I was glad for its flimsy protection.
Garrick’s eyes narrowed, and with a thrum of magic, the plate disappeared. He stepped closer, ignoring Grim’s rumbling growl.
“Why do you ask?” he demanded again.
“You have a bedroom decorated for a spouse,” I whispered. “And I kissed you . . .”
He glanced over my shoulder. “I see you’ve been busy. Where else have you snooped, I wonder?”
“I wasn’t snooping!” I countered hotly. “I was looking for a place to hide, but I didn’t go into either bedroom.” When his
eyebrows rose, I winced. I hadn’t meant to admit that I’d seen his room, too.
His voice lowered to a dark, enticing rumble. “Were you looking for my bed, Riela?”
I shook my head even as his magic caressed the syllables of my name. The tug in my lower belly got stronger every time he
said it.
“Do you know what happens when you invite an Etheri to chase you?” he asked, his eyes glinting.
“I get a boon?” I hazarded hopefully. Surely the stories couldn’t be that wrong, right?
A wicked smile curled over his lips. “You’ll get more than that, little mage. Invite an Etheri to chase, and we will chase you. And when we catch you, we will take you.” The rough edge in his voice left no doubt as to his meaning. He eased closer, his expression blazing, and murmured,
“Over and over, until you are limp and shattered with pleasure, and then we will take you again.”
I didn’t know if the words were a threat or a promise, but desire shivered over my skin. It shouldn’t—there were plenty of
tales warning what happened when humans mixed with Etheri, and it almost never ended well for the human. But with Garrick
whispering in my ear, I suddenly knew why all those humans had leapt anyway.
I lifted my face and threw caution to the wind. “You chased me. You caught me.”
His eyes blazed silver with feral need for the barest moment before he smoothed his expression. Only his clenched fists gave
away his turmoil. “Do not tempt me unless you are prepared to face the consequences,” he growled. “If you want to go to the
edge of the forest tomorrow, you need to be able to walk.”
With anyone else, I would’ve ascribed the words to baseless hubris, but I’d felt his erection. Multiple rounds of sex, no matter how pleasurable, would make me sore tomorrow.
But not so sore that I couldn’t walk.
I opened my mouth to tempt him once more when my brain finally started working. This morning, I’d been willing, but he was the one who’d pulled away. A few hours ago, I’d kissed him and he’d soundly rejected me. Then I’d asked him to play a
silly game, and suddenly he was promising to fuck me all night.
Something didn’t add up.
My eyes narrowed. “Are you compelled to chase me if I offer?” I demanded.
His expression closed. “Etheri sovereigns cannot be compelled.”
“But there is some magic at work, isn’t there?” I pushed.
His chin dipped, and I ducked my head to hide the renewed humiliation. I’d riled his instincts or magic or something, so he’d chased me even though he didn’t want me. I should’ve understood from the beginning. He could’ve caught me in a second,
but he’d given me plenty of time to escape. And even now, he was trying to deter me.
Message received. Again. I swore I’d make it stick this time.
I patted Grim, then knotted my hands together behind my back and bobbed a shallow bow. “Thank you for letting me know. I’m
sorry I dragged you into this.” Garrick frowned, but I didn’t give him a chance to interrupt. “What time would you like to
leave tomorrow?”
For a long moment, I didn’t think he would let the subject change stand. Finally, he said, “We’ll leave at dawn. The trip
will take most of the day. Bring your weapons.”
I nodded. All I had to do was change into my original clothes and grab my weapons and pack, and I’d be ready. “I will see
you at dawn,” I murmured, already edging around him toward freedom.
His gaze followed me until I disappeared down the stairs. It was only once I was safely back in my room that I realized he
hadn’t actually answered my question about being betrothed or in love.