Chapter 13 #3
Well, that was fast…
Anna released him at once. “You didn’t even try.” Her tone was annoyed, confused, and he shot a narrow-eyed gaze her way.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said.
She frowned. “Stand up.”
He obeyed, but paused on the crowd gathering at the periphery of the clearing. She followed his gaze, scowling. The curse she muttered elicited from him a small laugh. “Do you always draw a crowd?” he asked.
She shook her head. “They’re vultures. Just ignore it.”
He glanced at the growing swarm. “Kind of hard when their emotions are trying to burn my flesh.”
A smile swelled in her eyes, but she smothered it in her expression. “Put your hands up and try to stop me.”
“I will if you tell me what you know about Morgan’s magic.”
She launched herself at him. This time, he swatted her fist away before it made contact with his person, but her other hand gripped his shoulder, and her knee thrust into his stomach.
The air burst from his lungs in a great spasm, and the crowd erupted into cheers and laughter.
“Get him, Anna!” they shouted.
“Djiante trash!”
“Put the traitor on his ass!”
Doubled over, David took a moment to catch his breath. When he looked up, his gaze caught on Sean’s cobalt blue. The other man stared, penetrating, neither smiling nor jeering.
Just…watching.
“Why aren’t you trying?” Anna murmured.
“Why won’t you answer my question?” he replied, still breathless.
She huffed. “Because I don’t want to.”
He half smiled her way. “Neither do I.”
“Take him down, Anna!” Cathaire shouted.
She spared an irate glance for her trainer, then returned her attention to David. Voice low, she said, “This would be more fun if you’d play along.”
He allowed himself a small laugh. “You want to play with me, Anna?”
Her blue eyes flared with something that bordered on interest. “That depends. Do you play fair?”
“Why would you play the game if you’re going to follow the rules?”
Heat spiraled through her emotions, so fiery David could almost feel the warmth on his skin. She put her hands on her hips.
“Tell me about Morgan’s magic,” he said, fighting the urge to use the voice to get his way.
She launched herself at him, and this time, she didn’t hold back. Her fists clipped his chin in a quick one-two. A leg slammed into his ribs. A foot pummeled his chest in a powerful blow.
He stumbled backward.
She attacked before he gained his footing, her forearm plowing into his shoulder so he lost his balance. He fell hard to the ground, and the crowd whooped in delight.
Anna stood over him, smirking. “Cathaire won’t tolerate your games.”
“Good thing I’ve got my very own pixie girl to train me, then,” he said. “Tell me about Morgan.”
The smirk disappeared.
“Apprentice!”
Anna snapped to attention as Cathaire strode their way. He frowned at David. “You need work.”
David pushed slowly to his feet and lamented the knowledge that he’d have to do this again, then again. Every damn day.
Cathaire gripped his shoulder. “We begin first thing tomorrow. I expect a modicum of effort, Galadaine’s heir.” With that, he bowed and made his way toward Sean.
Anna stripped off her guards and took off in the opposite direction. David drifted behind her, drawn by something he couldn’t quite name.
“David?” Autumn asked.
“I’ll catch up with you later,” he said, gaze fixed to the back of Anna’s head.
They were nearly to the bridge before Anna spoke, though she didn’t bother to turn around. “I know you’re following me.”
“Seriously. What do you know about Morgan’s magic?” he asked instead of admitting to his crimes.
She flashed blue eyes at him. “I know it’s despised.”
David increased his pace, closing the gap so a mere yard separated them. “You said you studied it.”
Her wild landscape of emotions spiked with alarm. “I just meant I’d heard about it.”
“That isn’t what you meant.”
Anna jerked to a stop, and David drew up right behind her.
“What do you really want?” she asked.
He wasn’t sure, exactly, but she was of a rare subset of people—those who didn’t hate him—and he yearned for the knowledge in her head. Would she be willing to give it? He dropped his voice. “Teach me what you know.”
Surprise fluttered through her—an entire flock of butterflies so powerful, they nearly tickled his skin. He retreated from it.
Why were her emotions so tangible?
She spun, cocking her hip and laying those blue, blue eyes right on him.
David took one more step back. Subtly. Casually.
He was not unnerved. Definitely not. This was caution. There was something peculiar about this woman. Something rare.
“I don’t know much,” she said, tone hesitant.
“You know more than I do.” Before he could stop himself, the sugary silk drifted into his voice, and he added, “Teach me?”
The blue disappeared behind expanding pupils, and David chided himself. It was rare these days that the voice trick crept up unknowingly. Only when he really wanted something. When he was desperate.
“Alright,” Anna said. “What do you want to know?”
“Not here,” he said, voice still unwillingly laced with honey. “Follow me.”