Chapter 10

“It would seem your panther and I are at a stalemate,” Roan continued casually, slinging his arms over his knees, the rope neatly looped in his hand. “We keep underestimating each other. He’s certainly powerful, I’ll give him that. This really is the most intense barrier I’ve ever seen. But, you see, love, this eye isn’t just for personal magicks. It nullifies all forms of magic that harm or hinder me.” His dark amusement deepened, his silver eye swirling brightly on the side of his face hidden in shadow. “So, while it’s powerful, it will only take me a moment to break it ... like you.”

Swallowing hard, she felt frozen for a second until his hungry grin and sweet, gritty warning snapped her back to the moment. “You should run now, kitten.”

She knew he was giving her the chance to flee. He wanted to turn this into a hunt. A sick game. He was giving her a head start to fulfill his fantasy. Well, she wasn’t going to play.

Jumping to her feet, she grabbed her bow and drew back the arrow, aiming at him, ready for the moment the barrier would be sucked up by that glowing artifact.

What was up with that thing? It really didn’t seem that powerful to her. But, like a black hole, it visibly pulled the magic from the flickering inscriptions, its hunger drawing in everything around it.

Well, at least that smile was gone, but she didn’t like this new expression any more than the last. Really, she didn’t even know why she cared that he frowned with disappointment, slowly shaking his head. “It just doesn’t suit you. You’re not a killer.”

Steeling herself, she drew the bow string a little further. “Try me.”

Not that damned smirk again. It made focusing on him really difficult. “Oh, I intend to, kitten.”

“Stop calling me that!”

“Why? Isn’t it appropriate? A dragon raised by cats. As pure as a puffed up kitty that I could shoo away with my boot. Go ahead and hiss at me, kitten. I think it’s adorable.”

The glow of the inscriptions sputtered and faded. His eye returned to its lazy, random movements. Still, he sat there ... waiting. Expecting.

Shit. She should have ran. Her arm simply did not have the strength after a week of starving to hold the position. If she didn’t release it, she would have to surrender to the burning in her muscles.

Clenching her jaw so tight her teeth ached, she allowed the arrow to slip. With a whistle, it flew true, but she hadn’t looked. The heavy thwack was a solid hit.

Checking, she shivered under that narrow glare. The arrow stuck into the back of the wagon behind him, a line of blood across his cheek from where it had grazed him on its way. He was pissed. It simmered in his gaze, just under the mask. It made her remember all the things he had done in his temper and her chest tightened.

She might have stood a better chance had she ran. It was too late now. If she took off, she’d be caught as soon as her stamina gave out. If she reached for her sword, he would have a spell on her. If she tried to cast a spell, it would take her too long.

Still, he did not move. What was his game? And why did it make her feel so ... wanton?

“I knew you weren’t a killer.”

Trembling, she glowered at him, her hands clenched as tight as the rest of her body. “I’m not like you.”

The angry line melted away as he nodded slowly, that sly expression back and his voice that dark velvet from earlier. “That’s right. You’re a good girl.”

Her wide-eyed, blinking confusion told him more than she could have with words, and she didn’t even know it. A whole flood of emotions hit her in places she had never felt so ... lustful before. Left fumbling for some logical answer to the sensation, she was blushing too brightly to hide it.

Roan grinned. “Guess my hunch was right.” Containing himself, he brought her back to the moment. “Well, now there’s no excuse for you to not feed me.”

Eyes darting between the small cauldron of rice and him, she glared with a wary frown and swiped her head side to side. “I’m not getting that close to you.”

His uncharacteristic pout threw her off. “But, you want to take me to meet this friend of yours, and I haven’t eaten in days. Would be rude to show up as a hungry guest.”

Unbalanced, her head was reeling. He had just spent all that time making her feel like he was going to attack her as soon as he got the chance, and now he was just ... cooperating? There wasn’t even a lock on the cage door. Any lock would have been useless as Draen could simply break the wood and bend the bars. The only thing that had held the Seeker in was the spell.

What was his game this time? First, he wanted her to run. Now, to lure her closer? He still held that rope like he intended to use it. Her arms were aching from the memory. Almost as much as other places ached for something she’d never been able to satisfy.

“You can come get it yourself,” she growled.

His salacious grin made bumps roll over her skin, having to stiffen hard to hide her trembles. “If you make me leave this cage, then you’ll be coming plenty ... all over my cock.”

Her face twisted up in a snarl. Taking another arrow, she let it fly in his direction again. This time, he jerked his head a bit to avoid the sharp tip that split the first one cleanly in half with the crisp splintering of wood. “You are such a creep!”