Chapter 6

• I spun around and looked at the doorway to the kitchen, because I just couldn’t stand there with what I knew to be the stupidest expression on my face, with him watching me.
• “Do you know what they’re trying to do?”
• I didn’t want to answer. I wanted to grab my phone, walk out the door, and never look back. I shook my head, only because I didn’t know where I was or how to get home. “Some crap about bringing down a wall and freeing a nation, or something.” I sighed and slumped my shoulders. “I just wanted to get my friend back and get the hell away from them.”
• His quiet laugh was brief. “Well, at least you know you shouldn’t be near them.”
• I turned and looked at him. “Ya think?” I rolled my eyes at him. “They all gave me the creeps. I have no idea what Erin seen in them.”
• “That’s not what I meant.” He shrugged, “but yes, they’re the sort that should never see the light of day.”
• I frowned. “What do you mean?”
• Crossing his arms over that large chest, he looked at the floor. “Your food to most of them.” He said in a low, scary as hell tone then lifted his chin to look at me.
• His eyes were red!
• Red!
• There was no way he had put contacts in. I would have seen it. I stumbled backwards and almost tripped over my own feet. “They’re not contacts.” I whispered aloud.
• He blinked and looked at me again and his eyes were brown.
• “What the...” I felt like my eyes were bulging out of my head and didn’t care.
• Tilting his head, he studied me. “They kept you in the dark.” He glanced to the bottle of juice and then bent and picked it up. Opening it, he watched me. “That thing on your wrist,” he motioned with his chin, “tells me we’re on my side…”
• Something inside me snapped. “Side. Of. What?” I waved my hands around, pacing in a little circle. “No one explains that—ever.”
• “Your friend Erin didn’t explain anything? She knew enough. She tried to kill my brothers and I.”
• I stopped and looked at him. He wasn’t joking. I closed my eyes. “That stupid staff Marcus gave her.” I whispered. Opening my eyes, I looked at him, without really seeing him, “I could feel the power in it. It was wrong, I told her to burn the damn thing. It was like she was possessed, or something, whenever she was around Marcus.”
• “Well she didn’t.” He gave me a smug look, “she’ll never see the light of day again.”
• I rushed forward and jabbed him in the chest with my hand. “She better be all right.” I jabbed him again. “I didn’t do all this only to find out she’s dead.” My words sunk in. I covered my mouth and looked up at him, waiting to hear if my friend was dead or alive.
• His dark eyes studied me briefly. “She’s alive.”
• The breath I’d been holding whooshed out in relief. Then I realized I’d crossed the barrier and turned to go back.
• He grabbed my arm and held me, so I couldn’t.
• I spun back to him. “You are so lucky I can’t use my magic right now.”
• “Oh?” He leaned down so his face was an inch from mine. Anger etched his face. “What would you do? Dance around in my fucking head some more?”
• I jerked my arm trying to get out of his grasp. “No, I’d knock you on your ass.”
• He snorted and released me.
• Like a coward I jumped to the other side of the invisible line again. “Don’t ever touch me again.”
• Leone stepped as close as he could without setting off the purple sparks. “After all the time we’ve spent together inside my head, I think that gives me the right to do whatever I want where you’re concerned.”
• “I had no choice.” I spat at him.
• “You did.” He clenched his teeth. “There is always a choice.”
• “Yeah, easy to say if you’re royalty. I’m not that lucky.” I wanted to scream in frustration.
• Sliding down the wall, Leone squatted with his back against it. “Can you bring down this barrier or not?”
• I looked at him and then the air between us. “Even if I could, you are my ticket to getting Erin…”
• He shook his head slowly. “Not going to happen. Accept that now, and let’s find a way out of this.”
• I slid down the opposite wall and stared at him.
• “Get me out of here and I will take you to see the witch.” His tone was soft, and he seemed sincere. “You have my word.”
• I raised one eye brow. “Your word means nothing to me…”
• Reaching, he pulled a chain over his head and held it out to me. “This is my royal amulet. It is mine and only mine, and the all of Alterealm knows it.” He raised his hand further. “Take it. My entire family will honor any pact I make with you if you hold that.”
• Hesitantly I reached across and took it from his hand. Holding it in front of my face I studied it. It was two swords crossed with a sun on one side and moon on the other.
• “I’m the enforcer.” He offered.
• I looked at him then back to the pendant dangling in my hand. “And this means you have to take me to see Erin?”
• “Yes. You have my word.” He shrugged, “I have several brothers that would kick my ass if I didn’t keep my word after it’s given.”
• Just as I knew those with Marcus were insane, something told me Leone was telling the truth. “Okay.” Getting up, I tucked the chain and pendant into my jeans pocket. Backing away from where I had sat, I raised my hands. “You might want to get back.” I shrugged. “I have no idea if I can do this. I don’t do spells with waving my hands around and stuff, like the mages.”
• Leone stood up and went and stood in the bedroom door. “Wait, will it work from that side?”
• I took a deep breath. “Has to, my magic won’t work if I cross it.”
• He nodded. “Okay. Do it.”