"Rowan!" I jumped straight out of my seat, my cards flying into the air as I turned toward the door in a panic. Everyone laughed. Ed and Greer giving each other a high five while Angie nearly fell off her own chair. Gemma, however, laughed smugly as she folded her arms over her chest.
"Care to return from whatever you were smiling at and join us," Gemma asked, giving me a wink and making it completely clear that she knew exactly what I was smiling at. The gentle tug of her magic against mine was even more of a promise, her widening smile an admittance that she was doing it on purpose.
Damn this woman.
I needed to get her alone. Damn Angie insisting that she needed to sleep in her room for some girl time. But Angie’s insistence hadn't stopped Gemma from trailing her fingers over my arms, or tugging at my magic, or biting her bottom lip when she was sure no one was watching.
My magic sparked, the world shifting a bit as my neck began to heat. With none of my father’s binds and all of Gemma’s teasing my Drak magic was becoming uncontrollable again.
Damn it all.
"I'll be right back," I mumbled, my magic pulling all my cards back on the table as I made my way to the door, practically running for the bathroom as everyone laughed louder behind me.
"What?" Angie shrieked as I turned the corner, and then another, not for the bathroom but for some silence. Some calm to settle my magic. All this teasing was sending me into a boiling mess. I needed to breathe. Two minutes.
That’s all I needed.
"You are going to make it very hard to control myself," I whispered, the second I felt her magic tiptoe closer, Gemma's smiling face peeking around the corner a second later.
She leaned against the wall, folding her arms and smiling with that mischievous grin that was so inevitably her. I would say she looked wicked, if she wasn't biting that lip again.
“Control yourself how?” I wasn’t sure if she was teasing or not.
“My magic is not currently bound, Gemma,” I whispered. “It’s dangerous.”
“You don’t scare me, Rowan. No part of you scares me.”
“You say that now.” I tried to push a laugh into my voice.
"I already told you I'm not going to kill you," she teased, resting her head against the stone wall. "I don't kill people I like."
"Like?" I knew she was teasing, but my voice caught anyway, the high-pitched worry pulling through. Her smile spread, the weight of her magic against my skin growing, even though she didn't step closer.
"Yes. Like. Don't be greedy."
"But I am greedy." It was me who stepped forward, she didn't even move. Even when I lifted my finger and ran it down the length of her arm, pausing above the mark of her elbow, the raised brand of her Vilỳ kiss. "Perhaps that's why I've been trying to get you alone. Greed."
"Greed for what?" Oh, this wicked little beasty, she truly was going to drive me mad.
"For you," I whispered, my fingers spreading to run over her hand, to curl around her fingers, her fingers lifted, granting them access. "For more of you."
"You know," she said, watching our fingers tangle as she pushed herself off the wall, taking the smallest of steps forward. "I was starting to wonder if I was ever going to get you alone."
I didn't let her make the first move that time, I pulled her closer, my fingers tightening around hers. Her chest hit against mine, her eyes looking up to mine as I towered over her, my free hand winding around her back as I pressed her against me, heat and magic mingling as my hand trailed up her spine, fingers soft against her neck, against her chin.
Her lips parted, a desperate shaky breath fluttering over my lips, pulling me in like I was under her control. Tenderly, I brushed my lips against hers, the faintest touch shivering through her as the fireworks of our magic glittered over arms and backs and sparked in the air.
"Are you sure you only like me?" I murmured, teasing her with another faint kiss, with my hands as they tickled over her neck and she shivered.
"Yes, now shut up and kiss me, Rowan."
I did just that, holding her against me as I devoured her, my tongue running over her lip as I gently parted them, as I tasted her, pressing against her, her leg lifting over my hip in a desperate need to get closer. To feel everything.
With a groan, I gripped her hips, lifting her off the floor. Her legs wrapped around my waist as I pulled her to my level. I twisted, placing her back against the wall, pressing her between me and the cold stone, the thin layers of cotton shirts an unwanted barrier.
Twisting my fingers around the hem of her white cotton tank, I moved to lift it, to press my fingers to her bare abdomen. I didn't get above her navel before her wrist captured my hand and she pulled away with a mischievous smile.
"You greedy prince," she said with nearly a snarl. "I'm going to make you wait for that."
"Wait?" I gasped, letting my thumb run across the taut flesh of her abdomen and making her shiver.
"Yes," she captured my hand, holding it between us. "At least until we are not in a hallway and your baby sister can walk in on us."
"Point taken," I said, allowing her to slide back down to the floor, although I kept her hand in mine, our palms pressing together as our magic continued its tango.
"I wish I knew what this means," she whispered, her hand flat against mine before she intertwined our fingers, the magic sparking between us in little stars. She jerked at their appearance, but I held her still against me, my hand flat against her back.
"It’s our magic," I whispered, watching her for any sign of fear, any chance that she would pull away. I wasn't sure she was ready to hear this. Telling someone they are destined to be with you, was not easy. Add into what we had been to each other mere months ago and those few words felt like an impossibility.
"Yeah. I figured that much out, you psycho," she snapped, trying to pull away again, I leaned closer, pressing my lips against her forehead. She stilled. "What is it Rowan?"
"Our magic..." I faltered, pulling back so I could see her. "It's fated. It means we were meant to be together."
"Meant to--" she stuttered, the fear I had been worried about flaring in her eyes, tightening in her jaw. She tried to move away again, but this time I let her. I wasn't about to force her into this. Into anything.
"Yes," I nodded, my heart aching as air flooded the space between us, my magic searching for hers even as she began to withdraw. "Don't worry. I'm not going to go off and order a wedding cake--"
"Wedding! What the hell is wrong with you?" she shrieked, okay that joke didn't hit correctly. Best to stick with facts.
"Not every one of my kind finds their true mate," I said, still watching as the horror in her expression deepened. I couldn't back down now. I was in too deep. "Not everyone with magic has one. That's what it is, that's why our magic sparks together. It's why I avoided you after I felt it the first time--" I paused, her eyes widening.
"In the hallway after Sia attacked me." It wasn't a question. She knew as well as I did.
I nodded yes, "I was scared. I know you’re scared. I'm not going to force you into anything, Gemma." My heart caught at saying her name aloud. "I don't exactly come without some oddities."
I gestured to my eyes, closing them to avoid seeing her expression, the truth. We hadn't exactly talked about it yet.
"You're right," she said, less hostile than I expected. "You're a freak. Join the club."
I opened my eyes, she had stepped closer, although still not close enough to touch. I didn't move, I didn't dare.
"I can't marry you, Rowan. I'm not even sure I can date you. But if this is all we can do..." she faded off, her lips pressed into a tight line as she stood there, staring at me from behind her curls. Waiting.
I stepped forward slowly, moving her hair back before I grabbed her hand, before I pulled her closer.
"It's enough
--" I didn't get a chance to finish before feet thundered through the halls, a door slammed and Angie, Greer, and Ed yelled my name, another voice mixed in with it.
"Gemma!"
"Rowan!"
"Find him!"
The joy in our magic evaporated, the world evaporated, everything falling to dread as four people blazed around the corner, Greer carrying Angie as the two guys trailed behind my blood-covered Aunt.
"Wyn?" The scream froze my throat and the sound was more of a choke.
"We need to go," she snapped, pushing past us as more voices started to echo through the caves behind us, these ones angry. Violent.
"Go?" I asked, grabbing Gemma's hand and stowing her with me as we chased my Aunt. Luckily, she didn't pull away.
"Yes. To the safe house, if it's still safe. I don't know. Just get your asses in gear and follow me," she was mumbling, leading us at a near run as we took off deeper into the caves, towards the living quarters and the back door entrances that I had been told were sealed long ago.
"What is going on?" I demanded, pulling alongside Wyn, who only gave me a snarling look before turning another corner and leading us all into my room. I didn't even care that it was messy and gross and smelled of sweat. I stared at Wyn, waiting as she barred the door.
"That attack your parents had planned. Turned out your fucking brother has betrayed us all." She didn't even need to say which fucking brother. I knew. It was clear on everyone's faces that they knew. "They were waiting for us. A few of us got out but..."
She paused, listening at the door. But there was only silence, the cold dead unwanted silence.
"Who?"
"I don't know, Rowan," she snapped, going through my drawers now and pulling clothes out like they were streamers. "I came here to get you two out of here, before Adrian and his fucking army reached the caves."
"Adrian?" Gemma asked from behind me, her shock as dead as I felt. But I didn't turn. I didn't ask. I watched my aunt as she kept searching my room. I didn't have to ask for what.
"Where is she?" I asked. Wyn froze and turned, her dark eyes swollen with that dangerous fire magic that she alone carried.
"That's what I need you to tell me, Row. I need you to help me stop this war before it has a chance to start."
"War?" Greer asked, but I didn't move. Wyn didn't move. We stared at each other, every minute ticking closer to a finality that I had fought against for so long. That I was still fighting against.
Until Gemma stepped beside me, her hand wrapped around my own, as she said, loud enough for the guys in the room to hear, "If anyone says one thing out of line, Row, I'll be the first to punch their faces in. I've got you."
"Knew I liked you," Wyn said, finally breaking the spell and letting me breathe, letting everything settle as Gemma's magic flowed through me, as she gave me another one of the beautifully rare, genuine smiles.
"Consider me your ass-kicking bodyguard," she whispered, before reaching up on her tiptoes and planting a kiss on my jaw.
I exhaled, everything feeling numb as I walked away from the warmth of her hand, from an easy life that never would have been mine.
Two steps to the dresser, my magic pulled the drawer open, the underwear already pushed aside as if it was waiting for me.
Waiting for this moment.
My fingers shook as I reached for the thing, the hardened mud warm under my fingers, buzzing through me.
Begging.
Needing.
I held it for only a second, wondering if there could be any good in the power before I covered it with my palm, filling it to the brim.
***
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Also by Rebecca Ethington
THE WORLD OF IMDALIND
The Imdalind Series
Kiss of Fire, Imdalind #1
Eyes of Ember, Imdalind #2
Scorched Treachery, Imdalind #3
Soul of Flame, Imdalind #4
Burnt Devotion, Imdalind #5
Brand of Betrayal, Imdalind #6
Dawn of Ash, Imdalind #7
Crown of Cinders, Imdalind #8
Ilyan, Imdalind #9
The King of Imdalind Series
Spark of Vengeance, Book 1
Flare of Villainy, Book 2 (Coming 2019)
Books 3-4 TBA
Imdalind Academy
The Gauntlet, Book One
Rogue Royalty, Book Two
Broken Renegade, Book Three
Reluctant Seer, Book Four
TBA, Book Five
THE CIRCUS OF SHIFTERS
The Phoenix’s Ashes Series
Rise of the Witch, Book One
Fall of the Dragon, Book Two
Flight of the King, Book Three
Flame of the Phoenix, Book Four
Death of the Demon, Book Five
THE OTHER WORLDS
The Through Glass Series
Book One: The Dark
Book Two: The Blue
Book Three: The Rose
Book Four: The Cut
Book Five: The Light (Coming 2019)
Book Six: The Ascended (Coming 2019)
Of River and Raynn, The Series
The Catalyst: Act One (Rereleases 2019)
The Requisite: Act Two (Coming Soon)
THE PARTY IS HERE
About the Author
Rebecca Ethington is an internationally bestselling author with almost 700,000 books sold. Her breakout debut, The Imdalind Series, has been featured on bestseller lists since its debut in 2012, reaching thousands of adoring fans worldwide and cited as “Interesting and Intense” by USA Today’s Happily Ever After Blog.
From writing horror to romance and creating every sort of magical creature in between, Rebecca’s imagination weaves vibrant worlds that transport readers into the pages of her books. Her writing has been described as fresh, original, and groundbreaking, with stories that bend genres and create fantastical worlds.
Born and raised under the lights of a stage, Rebecca has written stories by the ghost light, told them in whispers in dark corridors, and never stopped creating within the pages of a notebook.
Find me online
www.rebeccaethington.com
contact@rebeccaethington.com