Page 51 of Rogue's Possession (Covenant of Thorns 2)

The silver flash of Rogue’s sword as he dueled with Liam stabbed through my thoughts, sickening my stomach.

It didn’t help that the afternoon sun beat against my scalp, curdling into a headache. Maybe the beer had gotten me more than I thought. Magic creeping into my blood. A pestilence, Nancy had called it. Or a kind of radioactivity, mutating my genomes, changing me into something else.

And yet, Nancy remained immune in a way that I was not. Stolidly human and cheerfully unmagical. Why was I so vulnerable? Why had I been able to work magic—huge, potent magic—from the moment I arrived and not her or poor, doomed Cecily? Or perhaps since before that and I just hadn’t known it. But I’d seen it, hadn’t I? The blue sparkling magic running down the dark face of the tower and into me. My stomach shifted greasily. Whatever it was that connected me to Rogue, that led me to Devils Tower and those fateful steps that brought me here in the first place, it lurked within, as surely as the white claw of the cat that would likely tear me apart from the inside out.

If Rogue didn’t kill me first.

In a few hours, I would see Rogue again. I’d have to kiss him, share his bed, keep to all our bargains, big and small. All the while wondering if Cecily’s fate would eventually be mine.

I had no idea what I’d say to him.

Except I wanted the fucking earringsoff right now.

I fought the urge to tear at them, knowing it would lead nowhere. Perhaps if I cut off the entire lobe? I would be like Van Gogh, cutting off my ear to send my lover, to express my great anguish. With as much effect, most likely. Still, the drama held a certain appeal.

For a while I tried reversing what I’d done in the cave, making the attachment un-permanent. But I couldn’t dig my nails into it. What Rogue had put into place stayed neatly sealed, smooth as glass, far beyond my strength to reach.

He’d well and truly trapped me.

Darling leaned against my back, sending sleepy thoughts of affection—and the image of him, horse-sized, and me riding his back to glorious safety. The addition of Rogue running after and flailing his arms in the air made me smile.

“If only I could escape these ties that easily, Darling.”

Felicity topped the rise and, though we’d been riding no more than an hour or two, it appeared that the company had decided upon naptime. The soldiers had doffed their packs and lolled in the shade of some trees. The Brownies and dragonfly girls had piled together like happy puppies and were already snoring musically. Starling had curled up in a tight little ball, cheek pillowed on her folded hands.

I would have griped about the apparent total lack of concern for me, the person they were all purportedly protecting, but the reason for their abandonment—and likely their sudden desire to sleep, stood waiting in the middle of the road, arms folded, black hair loose in a shining cape around him, dark blue eyes steady on me.

I reined up and Rogue took Felicity’s bridle, holding up a hand to assist me down.

“Fancy meeting you here.” I raised an eyebrow at him, declining to dismount for the moment.

“I’m not in the mood for games,” he replied, cool and remote. “You and I need to talk.”

“I thought you once said talk is the death of romance?”

He studied me and I quickly quieted my thoughts. Too late, it seemed.

“In this case, what you are already thinking can cause us a far deadlier wound. Get down, Gwynn.”

Ignoring his hand, I did, taking a moment to straighten my skirts and brush them off—and plan my strategy. Darling leaped from his saddle pad to my shoulder, sinking in his claws and making me huff out a breath at his sudden weight. His teeth fastened on one of the dangling earrings, reminding me. Rogue narrowed his eyes at the cat in glittering threat.

“You want to talk?” I gave Rogue my sweetest smile. “I want these earrings off.”

I’d surprised him with that. How interesting.

“After we talk, we’ll discuss the earrings. They look so lovely on you, my Gwynn.”

“Cut the crap, Rogue. I want them off and I want them off now. Nonnegotiable.”

He tucked his hair behind his ear, letting the golden horseshoe I’d affixed there wink in the afternoon sun.

“And will you take back your gift as well?”

“If you like. Fair’s fair.”

“Fine.” He nodded once, in curt agreement and held out an imperious hand. “Come with me.”

Unwilling to fight another battle just yet, I took his hand this time. Darling swiped a claw at him.

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