Page 41 of Magic Claimed
“You’re pale,” Jarom said.
“And you should ask questions before you act. Haven’t you learned your lesson?” I snapped, mollified when his veins stopped pulsing. Now he only looked as though he sucked on a lemon instead of having one rammed up his…
Sedric entered. I hadn’t heard anyone order breakfast. The savoury smell of scones and butter hit my nostrils and my stomach growled loud enough that everyone stopped what they did to look at me.
“Good. Breakfast is here,” Alerick said.
“I thought you said you weren’t hungry,” Jarom said, catching me eyeing the tray.
“I said we had no time to waste. Those are two different things,” I said.
I watched Jarom from the corner of my eye, while Sedric placed the laden tray on the desk. For all my talk of not being hungry, the truth was I was starving. When there was no food, I had a way of psychologically forgetting about it as much as I could, or I’d make my way to the kitchen refuse bins, the pig trough, or the horse stalls. There was all manner of food there if you looked for it, but now that real meals were shoved under my nose, my stomach chose to make itself known. Alerick filled a plate and held it out to me. My nose twitched and my mouth watered.
“Is this all for me?” I asked.
“Who else did you think it was for?” Jarom asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s for me, and maybe it isn’t.” The tray was filled with far too much food for my stomach, but I wasn’t complaining. I snatched a scone with melting butter before anyone could take it away. Delicious goodness exploded in my mouth and I groaned out loud.
“Who in the seven hells would give you that idea?” Jarom said.
I looked at him as though he was stupid. “Esoti.”
Jarom cursed under his breath. He shot from the couch and paced the room. He ran his fingers through his hair so that it spiked out in all directions.
“Calm down, Jarom,” Alerick said.
Eike came into the room, his hair still damp, dressed in soft beige leathers and a white shirt open at the neck, showing off enough of his pecs to tantalize. I tugged my gaze off Eike to Anise, hoping she didn’t notice me stare. Thankfully, she was engrossed with buttering her own scone.
“What’d I miss?” Eike said.
“Nothing.” Jarom spat and scoured me with a dark look that defined its meaning. I knew what he meant. I was nothing. To him, I was worse than nothing. A nothing and a mistake.
In his eyes was none of the warmth of Eike or Alerick. They wanted me for a reason. They had at least fed, bathed and clothed me. At least spoken to me nicely. Jarom hated me for being me, and that was something I couldn’t help. The scone churned in my stomach.
“Apologize to her, Jarom!” Alerick thundered, his deep voice boomed about the room. Jarom snarled.
I jumped. My heart hammered in my chest. I tasted the aggression pouring off him. I curled into a corner of the couch, bringing my knees to my chest. If I made myself small, maybe they’d forget I was here. Maybe they’d forget about me all together. Raised voices rarely meant anything good. I knew this was going to happen sooner or later. That they would blame their argument on me and make me pay. Now I really did feel nauseous. I clamped one hand over my mouth and the other clutched my stomach, willing the feeling away. The bite of scone gurgled in my stomach. Gods, I couldn’t throw up. I had to be strong. Had to show them I was strong, otherwise they would hurt me more and…
“Serafine. Serafine!”
Alerick knelt before me, his large hands engulfing mine. I blinked at him. I hadn’t seen him move, let alone come to be in front of me. My stomach heaved and I gagged. Something was thrust beneath my nose. A waste bucket. I grasped it with both hands and emptied my stomach, feeling sicker than I had before I’d puked up the scone.
“Let me go back. Forget about me. Listen to Jarom. He knows I’m not your mate. I can’t be. Mates like each other, at least,” I said.
Damn Jarom for touching me that night. Damn him to hell. I was more miserable now than I’d ever been, and that was saying something. There was a tentative touch on my knee. Jarom knelt next to Alerick, his expression dark and unreadable. “I am sorry, Serafine.”
“No, you’re not.” He was lying. At least he had the good grace to flinch at being found out. My fingers clenched around the rim of the bucket. I ignored the mess inside. “Don’t pretend. At least Eike and Alerick told me up front what they really want is this magic inside me. I don’t expect you to lie to get it out. I promise you this, if we can work out a way to get it unstuck, I will release you from the bond. I will release all of you and then you can find someone more suitable than a slave. No more pretending. No more feeding. No more dressing. And definitely no more touching. I can’t take it.”
I should have felt relief that I’d been this honest, but all I felt was worn out. Eike gasped, horror crossing his face. Alerick’s jaw clenched while he no doubt tried to keep down another roar. Jarom remained unreadable.
I set the bucket aside and wiped my mouth. “Now, Anise. Tell me what you want me to do and I’ll try my best. If I can do it, I’ll be out of your hair by nightfall.”
“Serafine, you can’t mean this,” Eike said.
Out of all of them, he seemed to somewhat like me. “You tried, Eike, and that means more to me than anything. It’s more than anyone else has ever done, but I’ve told you. I can’t be this mate you think I am. I simply don’t have it in me. If the magic is as powerful as Anise says it is, then I’ll break the bond for you. You will all be free, and Jarom can find someone he truly desires. Here’s a hint. It’s not me.”
I ignored the heavy silence in the room, smoothed the fabric over my knees and forced the turmoil of my emotions deep inside me with practised ease. “Anise. I’m ready when you are.”
