Siege And Seduction

3

“It’s better than the alternative.” I instantly stopped and narrowed a hard glare in his direction. “You would kill me?” His responding look was unexpectedly dark. “You are a danger to others, and I will not allow that. Had you not been family, you would have been dead after that rebellion you tried to orchestrate. Please believe that I want your freedom just as much as you, but it cannot be at the cost of other people’s lives, whether human or Fae. Until you let go of your need for revenge, you will be a danger to everyone around you. I hope that during your time here, you will see reason and can one day be freed.” “And what reason is there to forgive those who have so egregiously harmed me?” Merlin’s lips lifted in a sad smile. “That is something only you will be able to answer. Just remember that the only thing any of us can dictate with any certainty is our own happiness. Life exists in a chaos of variables that we can only pretend to control. There is often no rhyme or reason to life, and pointing blame can be as futile as using a net to capture the wind. Focusing on the who and why of a tragedy will only foster bitterness and keep you from seeing the good in the world. You will not be able to move forward with your life until you release the hatred in your heart.” “Well, then, I fear I may be here for a very long time.” “Perhaps,” he said with a small smirk before vanishing. My shoulders slumped under a wave of sudden exhaustion. Doubts and fears that I fought so hard to contain seized the opportunity to wriggle free and pummel my confidence. I had trained as Merlin’s apprentice for years and had pursued my own learning for centuries, but I still possessed only a fraction of his knowledge. The disparity in our abilities kept him one step ahead of me. It was the reason he’d been able to capture me when I’d been mere minutes away from long-awaited success. He’d chosen to protect Guin over me, the same as he’d done before. I couldn’t help but hate him. What had she ever done to instill such loyalty? His power far surpassed hers, so he had no reason to fear her. What should the lives of monarchs matter to a man who had achieved an almost godly status? They shouldn’t matter. Guin shouldn’t have mattered to him, yet she did, and I hated him for it. He could try to assuage his guilt by making my prison as fancy as he liked, but it changed nothing. He was still my captor, and I would stop at nothing to escape. OceanofPDF.com Chapter Two OceanofPDF.com MORGAN THE HOME where Merlin had imprisoned me was typical of Faery nobility. Not nearly as ostentatious as human royalty, but a far cry from the standard wooden cottages most Fae lived in. Secreted away in a dense forest, it was a single-story home constructed entirely of wood, save for the enormous windows. Floor-to-ceiling glass panes made the house feel like a part of the wilderness. No draperies—privacy wasn’t an issue—and no ornate carvings or cluttered details. The home was a statement on simplicity, and it suited me more than I cared to admit. Tension melted from my shoulders the second I stepped inside. Whenever I walked, especially at night, returning to the quiet house was a shocking contrast to the chorus of sounds in the forest. As usual, the empty house was silent. My night had been eventful, but now I was alone again. As always. I grabbed a glass of water from the kitchen, then headed back to my bedroom. When I flicked on the light, I nearly dropped the glass at the sight of the white wolf lounging on my bed. “Jesus Christ!” My hand slapped over my heart in a futile attempt to keep it from bursting from my chest. Unlike our last encounter, the wolf was entirely indifferent to my presence—he didn’t even lift his head from where it rested on the pale-blue quilt. His eyes glanced up, and his ears swiveled in my direction, but he stayed otherwise unmoved. “What do you think you’re doing here? Get out.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared down at the unwelcome intruder. “This is my room—my house, for that matter—you can’t just let yourself in like you own the place!” My arms started waving about, water splashing onto the ivory rug. Clearly unimpressed, he yawned, then flopped his furry chin onto his front paws.

I set the glass of water on the dresser and crossed to the side of the bed opposite where he lay. “Shoo, get down.” I waved my hands at him but got no response, so I slowly climbed onto the bed and approached his backside. “I don’t care who you’re friends with. You’re filthy, and you need to get. Off. My. Bed.” I accentuated each word with a shove to his back, but my efforts were futile. The two-hundred-pound behemoth refused to budge. I flopped back against the headboard with a loud exhale. “I’m not sleeping on that wretched sofa, and I’m too cold and tired to fight you. I suppose there’s enough room for both of us although you seem to take up more than your fair share. Just know that if you get bugs in my bed, I will gut you while you sleep.” The furry mutt let out a huff, and I made for the bathroom to tidy up before slipping under the covers. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept with someone in my bed, man or beast. As much as I liked my solitude, I was surprised to find myself comforted by the presence of another. I was probably just going crazy after weeks of solitude. Whatever the reason, a sense of calm settled over me in the darkened room. The wolf spun around in a circle to resituate himself and plopped back down just inches from where my hand lay. I watched my fingers in the soft moonlight as they reached for his thick white fur. He didn’t move as I ran my hand across his coat. It was softer than I would have expected, and I slipped my fingers into the warmth of his fur. “Your coat is really very lovely. And I’m not sure I’ve ever seen eyes with such an amber glow,” I said with a yawn. “Beautiful, really. Even those nasty teeth of yours were impressive. I can’t imagine being stuck in the body of a dog. Of course, maybe you’re just a dog. I would think that if magic had turned you into a wolf-dog, Merlin would have been able to find a way to turn you back. If anyone could undo a spell, it’s Merlin. But more than likely, you’re just a dog, and I’m the only one who’s stuck. You’re probably not even awake, and I’m lying here rambling to myself like a madwoman. It would be fitting. That’s what everyone thinks, that I’ve lost my sanity. Fortunately, I don’t care what they think.” I pulled my hand back to tuck beneath the covers, but my bedmate rolled closer as if asking for more. “You want me to keep petting you? Aside from fussy and stinky, you’re needy too—just lovely,” I groused before lazily stroking his fur. “I don’t know what Merlin expects you to accomplish here, but it’s not going to happen. I can guarantee he’s got something up his sleeve. That man is always scheming. I’ve tried to get a step ahead of him all my life, and not once have I succeeded.”