Page 47 of Reflections of Silence

Dolion bowed, while Sebastian glared at me over her head.

“Granny.” Dolion rose, liberating the tray.

She hugged his waist, taking Minette by the hand and leading her away from our small crowd. I found a glass pressed into my hand. Golden eyes assessed me, but nothing happened, andI seemed to have passed his test. I smiled my thanks to Dolion, but the drink was whisked away and placed back on the tray.

“We’re going,” Sebastian growled, low enough to make the air around me tremble.

I held his gaze, though fear plagued me—not of him, but whether I’d made a huge error coming here without trying harder to speak to him first. While I fought my indecision, the glass was placed back into my hand.

I nodded to Dolion, who watched his friend with a frown, and tossed the liquor back before Sebastian could take it away. Sebastian’s hand tightened on my arm, his presence roaring into my head where it stayed silent for so long. I tugged back, but he held me in a firm grip, pulling me against him.

Where before I would have found the action arousing, intimate, all I met now was a hard, closed face void of emotion and heart.

“I’ve had plenty of time to think about who you really are,Gella.”

I frowned, forgetting to pull away. “Who I am? I’m…me.” His words made no sense but that didn’t change whatever he thought he saw in my head. He snorted, towing me out the door. “Sebastian. Stop, I’m not?—”

He turned on me with a snarl. “You’ll come with me, and if you choose not to walk, I’ll pick you up and hurl you back into the sludge you came from.”

I froze, sensation draining from me, numbness replacing it with speed. Blinking back tears and knowing I was well out of my depth, I stopped fighting and let him drag me across the room.

“You will not take a woman by force, in this way or any other.” Granny Smythe was at the doorway faster than I could follow.

“You’re fast,” I mumbled. Numbness crept along my arms in silent fingers, the alcohol taking fast effect on my body.

Sebastian laughed, still gripping my arm. “Get out of my way, witch.”

Granny Smythe smiled and pressed a hand to his chest. Sebastian dropped to the floor with a resounding thump and began to snore.

She smiled at me. “He shouldn’t speak that way to his elders.”

I blinked. “How many of you ancients are there?” I managed to croak.

The crone shook her head, gesturing me across to where Minette was seated at a small table. Dolion passed me another glass, and went to attend his friend.

“Can you teach me how you did that?” I asked, aiming to have something to say, all sense of manners deserting me.

“Of course.” Granny Smythe smiled at me. “Sit.”

I did sit, unsure if it was by my choice or her command. So many things in the last few days slipped out of my control, though that had been the story of my life for the past year. First the king’s purchase of me and the other girls away from our homes, then the ship across the seas, the abbey and finding my home with Sebastian.

I had been with him for less than a month, and already I knew my heart would shatter if he forced me to leave.

And go where?

He snored on at my feet and didn't answer.I shouldn't have come here without understanding more of his fear.My hands began to shake, and I hid them in my mud-encrusted skirt.

“I’m so sorry to bring all this here, to you.” Tears pricked at my admission, and I peered down to hide those, too.

“This was always like to come, dear. Now, have the drink the nice stone totem gave you.”

Dolion snorted across the room, shaking his head. I was glad to take that order, too, letting the liquid slide down my throat in a single gulp. Warmth spread into my limbs.

“What is that?” I rasped.

“Bayou rum. Plantations always have the best stuff. With a few little additives of my own, of course.”

“Of course,” I grinned, beginning to get a gauge of the crazy woman.

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