Page 35

Chapter 11

After showering quickly, I get out and put some clothes on, waiting patiently for Abigail to come so I can warn her about the seer stones. I have to tell her to make sure she remains hidden on the day and to tell her family to go into hiding. I also don’t want to stay in their room on the off chance my magic manifests tonight. I know the chances are slim, but if they did, I was unaware of what to expect and if the change would be noticeable.

Around 7 PM, the door finally opens and in steps Abigail with a tray of food. She smiles nervously at me. I jump up, moving toward the door. I stop; I can tell she is trying to warn me as her eyes dart to mine full of alarm. After a second or two, I understand why she is so nervous. Silas enters behind her. I mentally curse and hope he won’t stay long. But when he goes and sits at the table, I realize she has actually brought in two plates and know he must plan on staying. Abigail doesn’t speak a word, just leaves the plates and exits the room, closing the door behind her.

Silas sits expectantly at the table, waiting for me to join him. Taking my seat at the small table, he leans back, watching me. I suddenly feel nervous under his watchful eye, and I know he can hear my heart racing, pounding in my chest.

“You’re staying?” I ask, hoping he won’t confirm my fears. He crosses his arms over his chest.

“That depends.”

“On?” I ask, fidgeting with my fingers under the table.

“How truthful you are being?”

I dart my eyes to him and my heart rate skips a beat. His eyes darken and I can tell he hears the change in my heart rate.

“Why are you nervous?” he asks, and I instantly stop fidgeting and go to pick up my fork, only then realizing how bad my hands are trembling. “Are you going to answer?” he says, raising an eyebrow.

“You may not like my answer.”

“Doesn’t matter, I want to hear it,” he says, reaching for his fork and twirling pasta around it.

“You make me nervous,” I tell him truthfully. He nods in understanding before bringing his fork to his lips. He chews before speaking.

“Eat,” he says pointing to my plate and I quickly scoop some up, chewing slowly. We eat in silence and when he is done, he sits back watching me. I go to put my fork down when I see him shake his head.

“Eat all of it,” he says, and I sigh before forcing in another mouthful. “I have been thinking…”

I fight the urge to spit out something sarcastic. “About?”

“Why you suddenly changed this afternoon and figured, you had a reason.”

I shake my head even though I am actually trying to please them so I can have the freedom to sleep in my room and be away from them.

“Don’t deny it; this morning you were pissed then you seemed fine. Then when I walked in with Abigail, you got nervous, your heart rate beating erratically.”

I try to come up with an excuse he won’t question. “I want to know what you are hiding.”

“I’m not hiding anything,” I answer quickly and the pain that lie causes makes my throat constrict.

“So, you won’t mind sleeping in our room, then.” As soon as the words leave his lips, my heart rate spikes. I wouldn’t be able to slip away, they would wake to the slightest of noises.

“So, I will ask you again, what are you hiding, Elora?”

“I’m not hiding anything; I just want to sleep in my room.” I bite down on my tongue, fighting the answer on the tip of it. My mouth fills with the coppery taste of my blood. I watch his eyes darken and he moves, standing before placing his hand on the table beside me, towering over me and bringing his face closer to mine.

“If I find out there is an ulterior motive to your actions, you will be punished, Elora. You won’t like my punishment. Understood?”

I nod, looking away, but Silas grips my chin forcing me to meet his intense gaze. His eyes search my face for any deception. He then takes a deep breath, moving closer, his lips almost touching mine. His intoxicating scent sweeps over me and I lean in instinctually when I feel his lips brush mine. I snap my eyes open, and I can feel him smiling against my lips. He kisses me, and I don’t pull back, instead, allowing him to kiss me. Part of me hates him, yet another part of me craves his touch. A never ending war in my head between what I know is rational and what is the mate bond. Both blur to one and create a war within me.

I kiss him back and he groans, slipping his tongue into my mouth, brushing mine softly as he bites my bottom lip, making me moan against his lips. He quietly chuckles at my reaction, pulling me to him, and all rational thoughts go out the window as I kiss him harder. His hands go to my backside before he lifts me. My body doesn’t even feel like my own as I wrap my arms around his neck to keep from falling. Then I feel the brick wall against my back, his lips hungrily devouring mine before moving to my chin and down my neck. I exhale a breathy moan at the feel of his hot mouth nipping and tasting my skin.

My fingers tangle in his messy hair, pulling him closer, loving the feel of his lips on my skin. Then the door swings open, and my eyes dart toward it. Abigail walks in, only to turn and rush back out at what she just walked in on, and I’m grateful it made him stop. My body refuses to listen to the rational part of me. Silas groans against my neck before releasing me and setting my feet on the floor.

“Remember what I said, Elora. I don’t want to punish you, so if there’s anything you want to confess, you know where our room is,” he says before walking out.

A second or so later Abigail enters and we say nothing for a few seconds, wanting to make sure he is gone. Abigail goes to the door with the tray in her hand on the off chance he is waiting and listening outside. She turns to look at me, giving me the nod to say he has gone.