Page 70 of Obsession

Aris quickly comes to my side, steadying me as I cover my eyes. His hands linger on my arms, even as I shake him away and blink the fuzziness out of my gaze to focus on the newcomer. Seven feet tall, with bronze skin that shines like the sun, Jaegen is patently out of place. The luminous moon is a contrast to his skin, the light too… mundane.

“Mary,” he says in greeting.

Aris looks between us, and I notice that he’s angled himself in front of me, a hand on my shoulder as if to push me away should the need arise. The behavior surprises me. It seems… instinctive that he wants to protect me.

“Who is this?” Aris asks, watching me carefully.

“A friend,” I reply, and Aris’ eyes tighten around the edges, maybe recognizing the lie.

“We are friends,” Jaegen confirms firmly.

Even with corroboration, Aris does not seem convinced, but Jaegen doesn’t care. His attention switches to me with a frown. “You managed to escape, yet were planning on abandoning him,” he says. “That was not our agreement.”

“Abandoning?” Aris says in alarm, looking between us.

My lips purse. I can’t speak freely, so he’ll have to read my mind.

Jaegen, I didn’t know if the mark worked. He’s returned to himself before, and if that happens this time, I don’t want to be there. He figured out what I was doing.

I see. The god’s gaze flicks to Aris beside me, the corners of his lips twisting. How interesting to see him like this.

I don’t know what he means by that, but it isn’t important. Did the mark work? I ask. Is it permanent?

His lips curl higher. Yes. He is weak now.

I don’t like him calling Aris weak. I don’t like the glint in his eyes. But, I remind myself pointedly, the spell worked. That’s what matters. I allow myself to feel some relief. Aris forgot himself, I escaped his followers, and I’m alive. This is the best outcome, one I dared hope for. I made it out, and I’m not alone.

Jaegen is before me. Magical, omnipotent, he can get me anything I need and quiet the creeping worry of, what do I do next?

And yet, as irritating as it’s been with Aris trailing after me, I felt better when it was just the two of us.

He’s annoying, but harmless. Jaegen, on the other hand…

I glance at Aris, who has been watching us closely.

He’s catching on that we’re talking. I can just tell. What do we do?

Jaegen draws my attention by shifting his bulk closer to me. Either he doesn’t notice or just doesn’t care when Aris and I both stiffen. “As we told you,” Jaegen says aloud, “Mary and I are friends. And I’m here to take her someplace safe. You may come with her, if you wish.”

I try not to hide my surprise. Why is Jaegen giving Aris a choice?

“‘Safe,’” Aris says, eyes narrowing on the word. “Why is she not safe here? What is unsafe about this place, which I apparently own?”

“We will explain everything once we are away from here,” Jaegen replies. “We cannot risk being caught.”

Aris glances at me to confirm this as the truth, and I dip my head in a nod. He shifts uneasily, instinctively aware that this is wrong in some way.

“Caught by my servants?” Aris presses, brows pushed together. “Could I not simply order them to leave?”

“Things are more complicated than that,” Jaegen tells him, and I nod when Aris again looks at me for confirmation. “But Mary cannot stay here. Do you want to go with her or not?”

Once more, giving Aris a choice. At least, the illusion of one. It surprises me; it’s such a gamble.

“I will be with her,” says Aris, jaw jutting. The implication that leaving me was considered a possibility offends him.

I try not to visibly display my relief at his acquiescence. Aris has no power now—at least, he doesn’t know that he does. Still, if we were to force him along, things could’ve turned ugly.

“Then we must leave.” Jaegen pauses to study his brother who has forgotten him. “Now, Aris.”

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