Midnight End

12

I jerked my eyes away and brushed past him to where I could see the wall just up ahead. Walking to the stone structure, I placed my hand against the porous grey stone. It retained a chill from the night air that seeped into my fingers like the cold touch of death. “How will we get past the ward?” I asked Knight, never taking my eyes from the wall. He had come to stand directly behind me, and I could feel the buzz of energy in the air between us.

“Merlin gave me the power to pass through wards.” His voice was a deep rumble, heavy with emotion. Unable to resist the lure, I glanced over my shoulder to see if I could discern his thoughts. His golden eyes had darkened to a deep amber, but his face was otherwise inscrutable. “That’s great for you,”—I cleared my throat and let my gaze fall to the ground—“but what about me?” “I’m not sure,” he replied thoughtfully. My head shot back up. “Not sure? You said you could do it, ‘not a problem.’ Now, you’re not sure?” Knight’s lips quirked up at the corners. He was amused by my outrage —almost as if he had intentionally riled me up, just to see my reaction. My eyes narrowed to small slits, and I imagined rearranging his expression with my fist. Not that my animosity bothered him one bit. He glanced up and down the wall like a contractor eyeballing a new job, ignoring my presence entirely. “I figure we’ll just have to trick the ward into thinking you’re me.” “That’s it. That’s your master plan?” I deadpanned. He smiled wide, and his eyelids dropped to half-mast in a sleepy, bedroom look. “It would be easier if my magic was fully charged.” s*x. He was suggesting we have s*x to charge his magic. On a normal day, I wouldn’t have batted an eye at the suggestion. When you grow up in a world where s*x is a necessary, common part of Fae life, it holds none of the taboo as it did on Earth. If he needed his magic charged, we would have s*x, and he would feed off the energy from my release—not a problem. However, this situation was different. “I’m sure charging your magic would make things easier for us.” I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “It would also be easier if I didn’t have these iron cuffs on my wrists.” If I didn’t get to use my magic, he certainly wasn’t getting to charge his. Not even remotely fazed, he took a step forward, bringing us inches apart. “I told you that’s not happening,” he said in a sultry rumble. He was attempting to assert his control over the situation, but the rasp in his voice made it clear I still held a certain degree of power over him. I leaned up to counter him. “Then I guess you’ll just have to make do.” As close as I was, I could smell his warm, spicy scent surround me. It flipped the switch on my arousal, and I could feel moisture flood my panties. s**t. There went any power I had. Knight’s nostrils flared, and his golden eyes dilated until only a small ring of color surrounded his wide pupils. “Was it the arguing that got you or simply being near me?” he asked in a husky voice. “Neither. I’m the outdoorsy type; being out in all these trees revs my engine.” Way to recover, Morgan. He’d buy that one, no problem. I mentally slapped myself on the forehead. “Outdoorsy … right.” Eyes still dilated, his lips pulled back in a wolfish grin. “Whatever lets you sleep at night. Now, take my hand.” With a shaky breath, I attempted to dowse my raging hormones. Get a f*****g grip. This man is not on the table. He’s the enemy. I reached out and placed my hand into his open palm, the heat of his touch blazing away the cold from the wall. A tingling warmth from where our hands met spread up my arm, down along my spine, and settled deep in my core. So much for self-control. Knight stepped up to the wall and pressed his free hand through the barrier as if the wall was nothing more than an optical illusion. The Fae could trace from one place to another, but I had never seen someone walk through an otherwise solid object. It was beautiful magic. I was stunned as his body disappeared, inch-by-inch, through the wall. When everything but his hand holding mine was through, he pulled me toward him, but my hand struck solid rock. He gave a couple more gentle tugs before walking back through to my side of the wall. I pulled my hand free as my mind became overwhelmed with doubt and disappointment. If he couldn’t get me through the wall, I would be trapped there at Merlin’s mercy. I would never get out and be able to search for the cauldron. Before my thoughts spiraled too far, Knight’s hands cupped my cheeks and lifted my face to his. “Stop worrying—I’ve got this,” he commanded in a quiet tone that brooked no argument. I nodded in response and slammed the lid down on my emotions, letting his confident demeanor buoy me. “We just have to get closer to one another. I’ll need you to be as close to me as possible.” Without waiting for a response, Knight spun me around and pulled my back against his chest, wrapping his arms around me. Our fingers intertwined, and his cheek came down to rest gently against mine. His beard tickled my jawline in a way that was unsettlingly pleasant. I cast away that thought like week-old rotten eggs. “Ready?” he murmured so close, I could feel the vibrations from his chest reverberate into mine. “Right foot first, then left.” I followed his command, his hulking framed curved around mine possessively. As our toes reached the wall, a searing heat radiated from his chest, warming my back and filling my body. To my utter astonishment, our feet passed through the wall. One small step at a time, we crossed through to the other side. When we were clear of the wall, I pulled free and spun around to look back at the wretched wall that had kept me so thoroughly imprisoned. He had done it. I was finally on the other side, standing on Seelie Lands. With a whooping cry of glee, I threw myself into Knight’s arms and squealed with exhilaration—it was a sound that hadn’t left my lips since before my mother had been taken from me. He may not have known me long, but he had to realize how uncharacteristic my outburst had been. Instead of pushing me away or teasing me, he lifted me off the ground and spun me around with a hearty chuckle. When he stilled his twirling, his grip lessened just enough to allow my body to slide, inch by delicious inch, down his length. Even once my feet were firmly on the ground, he held me by the waist pressed tightly against him. I couldn’t even be upset. Instead, I peered up at him with an idiotic grin plastered on my face.