Five (Elemental Enmity Series Book I) (21 page)

Why not tell him? He was trying to help me. Not even Cassie cared this much. “I found it at Roger’s the other day. It’s why I told you I couldn’t come with you tonight. I wanted to read it. I think it can help me figure out a way to get rid of the lords.”

He whistled. “That would be quite a feat. What makes you say that?”

I shrugged, but I instantly moved to protect the thing, just like when Cassie had held it. I made myself stop. It was extremely difficult for me to not snatch it from his hand. “It’s how I feel when I hold it. I can’t really explain it, but it’s as if I’m connected to it somehow. I need to give it back in a few days. So I have to finish it quickly.”

He thumbed through the pages. “My place isn’t far from here. We could read it together.”

Zach took me on so many roads, I could have been in Kansas for all I knew. He pulled down a dirt driveway that wound through some trees. We stopped in front of an old farmhouse. The moon shone brightly, highlighting the peeling paint. More than a few shutters were missing, and the rest were hanging by a nail or two. I almost laughed because it looked like a haunted house.

The front door creaked loudly when he opened it. I followed him through a foyer into the den. I liked this study even better than the one at Roger’s, although they were very similar. Mahogany bookcases lined the walls here, too, but they were simple, not ornate. The leather chairs were old and worn in. The musty smell of aged paper and ash surrounded me.

Zach sat on his haunches, arranging logs and kindling as though he had been doing the task his entire life. Before I knew it, a blaze roared in the hearth. There was something about the way the fire licked at the wood that was more satisfying than the artificiality of gas.

I lowered myself to the couch. He settled in next to me and pulled a blanket over our legs.

“This place has a lot of drafts. Let me know if you get cold.”

With him next to me, that was impossible. I didn’t want to start over so I summarized what I had read so far before I continued.

My captor took me to the fae capital. I still didn’t know his name or what he was going to do with me. I have never seen the likes of that place. The streets are paved in gold. The air is ripe with heavenly spices and the sweet smell of the springtime blooms that line the roads in every color of the rainbow and others the human eye can’t quite see.

He was right. My body did adjust to my new surroundings. My eyes became accustomed to the intense glow emanating from everything. Even the dust glittered in infinite hues.

He took me to the high priestess. Her appearance shocked me. Twiggs and leaves adorned her matted white hair. She wore layers of animal skins. Her eyes were the color of frosted glass. Her skin was as pale as a new fallen snow.

She circled me, sniffing the air like a bloodhound. I could not take the intensity of her gaze after one look. She could see my soul. I kept my eyes locked to the glowing earth while she touched my hair, inspected my nails, and held my face in her tiny hands.

“This will be a good union,” she announced to the crowd that had gathered. “She has abundant power and will aid the light court for many years to come.”

The people cheered. My captor took my hand. “Come,” he said. “Tonight, I make you my queen.”

Two of the lords stepped forward formally. “We bear witness that this woman was taken of her own will,” the tall, dark one said.

I planted my feet. “I was not,” I said, but no one listened.

“We acknowledge Taveon of Uldran as the rightful claimant to this Elemental,” the other one said.

“Don’t I get a choice in any of this?” I asked, but, again, I was ignored.

I looked up at Zach. His face was dispassionate as though he was bored.

“How awful,” I said. “Can you imagine not having a say in who you marry?”

Zach shrugged. “Plenty of societies throughout time have used arranged marriage for social gain.”

My muscles stiffened. I glared at Zach. “That doesn’t make it right.”

He pulled me tighter. “It doesn’t make it wrong, either. You just don’t understand the custom. I have met plenty of men and women alike that feel a sense of ease with their life because they already know what will happen. They don’t have to worry about dating or finding the right person.”

“Yeah, someone else gets to decide that.”

“That’s my point.”

“Whatever,” I said in disgust.

“Don’t get angry, love. I know why this affects you so deeply.” He squeezed my arms. “I, more than anyone, want to keep you from going through what Lily did.”

“Luke would probably have me in front of that creepy woman right now if it weren’t for you. Thank you for helping me.” I attempted to pull out from under his chin, but he tightened his grip.

His voice held an uncomfortable edge. “Why don’t we keep reading?”

I couldn’t understand why he kept me cocooned in his arms. Was he trying to avoid looking at me? I wasn’t in the mood to pursue that line of questions. I was tired. “What time is it?” I had to be back in my dorm by twelve.

“Eleven.”

I groaned. I hadn’t even done my homework. “I really need you to take me back now.”

When I pulled away this time, he let me go, if reluctantly. The look on his face was conflicted. Had I misjudged him? Was Cassie right about him? Would he be another man that didn’t respect my wishes?

He stood up suddenly, grabbing my hand. “Let’s get out of here before I change my mind and do something we’ll both regret.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. The night had turned cold. I shivered when he opened the door.

“Stay right there,” he said. He was back in seconds with a jacket. He gently slid it around my shoulders.

The thing dwarfed me, but I gratefully pushed my arms through the sleeves. His scent engulfed me. I swayed on my feet. Being near him was like an aphrodisiac. I couldn’t believe I was falling so hard and fast for him. I still didn’t know him very well, but when I was with him, everything made more sense.

I was almost asleep by the time he pulled up to my dorm. Yawning, I started to wiggle out of his jacket.

He placed a hand on my arm before he wrapped me in his strong embrace. “I’ll get it from you later. Good night, love.”

Guilt nagged at me as his face approached mine. Should I tell him what happened earlier? The moment his lips met mine, all thoughts of Alex disintegrated. His kiss was leisurely, as though we had all night. I could only take kissing him in short bursts. Otherwise, I would lose my mind and take it too far. I pulled away reluctantly.

He smiled sadly, as though he really didn’t want to let me go. “I’ll be right here Wednesday to take you to work.”

I was too exhausted to argue with him. Even though I had made it on time, I was glad the nosy guard wasn’t at her station when I went by. I slipped inside my room as quietly as I could. All the lights were off. Cassie snored lightly. I didn’t even undress. I fell into bed with Zach’s jacket on.

I woke to Cassie shouting at something unseen in the corner of the room.

“You filthy little tyrant! Give me back my things!” She paused with her hands on her hips.

I raised myself onto my elbows to see her better. I grinned.

She tilted her head belligerently. “Yes. I can see you. I don’t care if you like them.” She started pacing the room. Her eyes were aflame. “I can’t give you something else! Go steal from someone who thinks you’re a ghost!”

She paused as though waiting for a reply. “Take your pick. I don’t care. Just give me back my bracelet…and my broach.”

“Cassie,” I said. “Who are you talking to?”

She whirled around. “And you! How dare you stay out all night! I should have reported you.”

“What are you talking about? I was in bed before twelve.”

“I stayed up until two waiting for you. It’s really none of my business if you decided to sleep with him. You could have at least called me. I was worried sick.”

I wasn’t going to justify something that hadn’t happened, besides, if she had been that worried, she could have called me. “I know what time I got here. I looked at my watch before I walked through the door.”

She spun on her heels, facing the wall. “This is none of your business. Go away, you little rat. The next time I see you, you’d better have my things in your ugly fists.”

She walked over to the couch and plopped down. “I had no idea they could be this difficult.”

“Haven’t you ever talked to one of them before now?”

She smirked. “Sure I have, but Nixlan was nice.”

I laughed. “And this creature isn’t?”

She let out a huge gust of air. “He says he’s a troll. He claims if I can give him something better than what he took, he will return my things to me.”

I yawned. “You have plenty of jewelry. Just give him something that doesn’t mean that much to you.”

She frowned. “I’ve shown him everything else I own. He said he doesn’t like human baubles.”

I giggled. “He actually called them baubles?” He kind of sounded cute. I wished I could see him.

She glared at me. “What am I going to do, Rayla? Ainessa was hovering outside our window last night.”

My body stiffened. “What did you do?”

“Ignored her.” She grabbed a pillow and put it in her lap. “She couldn’t come in here without being invited.”

I snorted. “Is she a vampire?”

She shook her head at me. “You believe the most absurd things.”

“So believing in fairies isn’t absurd?”

She gave me a look. “Anyway, she banged on the window, and yelled at me to open it.” Cassie grunted her irritation. “As if I’d be stupid enough to do something like that. She told me that she wasn’t angry with me anymore, but she needed to talk to me.”

“About what?”

She caught my gaze before she said, “You.”

“Huh?”

“I know.” She threw her arms wide. “Why is the whole world obsessed with Rayla Tate all of the sudden?”

I harrumphed. “I realize I’m pretty ordinary, but no one wants to hear someone else tell them that, least of all their best friend.”

She looked at me guiltily before pacing the room. “I’m sorry for being awful. I’ve had the fae to myself for so long that I guess I feel possessive about the whole thing.” She spun around and frowned at me. “I know it’s ridiculous, so don’t even think about lecturing me.”