Page 74 of Forbidden Magic
Melanie shakes her head. “She’s never found. She shows up in time not to be a seeker, but nobody knows where that witch hides.”
Cole moves to the center of the evil huddle. “Let’s go. We need to find the other mortals.”
Now that I’ve officially lost, they all seem to be ignoring me. All but Flynn. A wicked smile spreads over his mouth as he checks the hole I made in his coat.
“One of them is a seeker,” Brie clarifies, heading off with Melanie. “He managed to get away, so be careful.”
Cole leans towards Jessa and whispers, “Find Darkwood. We’re sending a message. Anyone who’s with them is against us.”
They fan out in search of the others, but Flynn doesn’t budge.
Cole stops at the edge of the trees. “Are you coming?”
“In a minute,” Flynn answers. He looks me up and down in such a way that I can’t help but check myself to see if anything is wrong with my clothing, but no.
I wrap my arms around my frame and tap my foot against the icy ground. “You got me. Congratulations. Can I go now?”
“The night is just beginning.” He snaps his fingers, and the tree behind me wraps its branches around my collarbone.
The hug is not as vicious as it was the other day. “What are you? The Tree whisperer?”
My sass is met with silence. The contemplative gaze unnerves me more than the hatred from before.
The dark ninja outfit hugs his broad frame and makes him practically invisible in the thick darkness. The beanie covering his blond locks is the same as the one he was wearing the morning after the divination field trip, and he tears it off his head. “You think you’re on our level.”
“Not at all. I think I’m better.” I enunciate the words to piss him off and check the branches holding my wrists. The wood is dry and would catch on fire quickly.
Flynn wags his index finger form side to side. “You don’t want to set fire to the forest. That would get you expelled faster than any trick I have up my sleeve.” He closes the distance between us. The grimace on his face has melted into something foreign.
The hair at the back of my neck rise to attention, and I push against the branches, my wrists screaming at the abuse, but the wood holds strong. “Stay back, or you’ll burn first.”
His fingers poke the hollow of my neck and drag downward. “Kneel for me, and I’ll let you go.” The way he says the words is both cajoling and hopeful.
The Fae glamor plays hide-and-seek with his sharp cheekbones, the beauty of him enhanced by the magic in his veins. He’s pushing every ounce of it my way, and desire spikes in my blood.
“Come on, do it for me.”
My throat bobs.
A dark glint dances in his all-consuming stare. He’s hoping I’ll break for him. Like whoever gets me to kneel in front of them first will be crowned king.
The compulsion is strong, but tonight, I am stronger. The salt water I gulped down right before the horn blasted is still rumbling in my belly.
When his hand closes around my neck, I no longer feel like this is a game. Flynn would choke the life out of me without question, and my breath stutters.
His hand is hard against my pulse point, the heat of his rash breaths scalding my cheeks.
I press my head against the bark, putting as much distance between our faces as I can. The weight of the hate radiating from him steals my thoughts.
When his fingers grow soft around my throat, I stop breathing altogether.
He’s close enough for me to see the silver ring around his irises, and the proximity chokes me better than the hand at my neck. The tip of his nose rubs against my cheek, the soft caress almost obscene.
I hold his gaze. If I look away, he’ll close the gap between us and serve me a kiss that will ruin me.
We stay like that for a while, frozen in defiance, neither of us willing to break the spell first.
Giggles echo in the night, and Flynn doubles back, tearing at his hair.
