“No! I won’t go home. You need to hear what I have to say. I just—”
“I said go home,” Alden snarled and glared at me.
The Enforcers behind him snickered and laughed at me. I fought the urge to give them a solid jolt of my magic, but, with my luck, I’d end up in chains for it. That is, if I could still tap into it. I hadn’t been able to tap my magic since Larissa had died. “Alden,” I replied coldly. “I need to talk to you.”
“Go home, Synthia, I’ll call you later.”
Something in his eyes made me hesitate; something was off here. I could feel the hostility from the Enforcers, but I could also feel the urgency in Alden’s voice, and something else I couldn’t place yet. “Fine, but you need to hear what I have to tell you.”
“The Guild is no longer helping the Fae. If it pertains to that, you can forget it. You are no longer welcome here Synthia, nor is Adam. You have been warned,” Alden said as something passed in his eyes. He turned, and left me standing there gawking at his retreating back.
I turned the other way, and started down the stairs as the Enforcers closed in and escorted me from the building. I’d come here to report to Alden that people were being hurt—Guild members were being hurt! What the hell had happened in the week that I’d taken off to mourn my best friend? Had the entire world gone crazy?
I had expected to get the cold shoulder from the Guild, but not from Alden. Something was up, and it seemed like he just wanted me away from the Guild. Mix that with what had been going down with Ryder and his men, and you had a shit soup being stirred. It wouldn’t be served cold, either.
I’d walked home, oblivious to anything around me. I was so lost in thought that I almost missed my house. I shook off the dark images of what I’d witnessed at Ryder’s hands, and walked up the sidewalk that made a path over the dead grass in my yard.
I'd gotten my key into the lock and was pushing the door open when I felt his presence. That tingly electrical feeling like there was a downed power line nearby. I pushed the door all the way open, and stepped over the threshold, hoping the wards would prevent him from entering. “Ryder,” I whispered as the memory of him worshiping my body flashed through my mind.
“You ran from me again, Pet,” he growled as he stepped from around a large rose bush. He was still wearing his cloak. His eyes flashed golden fire as they raked down the length of my body.
“Yeah, I saw what you were doing and wasn’t sure if I’d be next. The Guild gets a bit upset when their own are abused, so, unless you want to tell me why you were torturing a room full of Guild Warlocks and those other guys, go away.” Sometimes I really needed a filter for my mouth.
“What I was doing inside my property isn’t any of your concern. You’ve been through enough lately.”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call the Guild and report this hmm?” I bluffed, crossing my arms and meeting him head on without showing a lick of fear. He strode forward and stopped inches from the door frame. I backed up, far enough that I was pretty sure he couldn’t touch me, or force me from the house. I smiled and cocked my head at him.
“I could make you come outside,” he grinned, and tilted his head to mimic mine, which caused his inky black hair to fall gently over his face. He was distracting me, and I wanted to know what he’d been doing in his mansion.
“Try,” I growled.
“I think you like it when I force your decisions.”
“Think again,” I snapped and narrowed my eyes on him.
“How does it feel to have my brand on you, Pet?” I was going to get whiplash one day from his topic changes. His smile was cold, but somehow, still managed to be beautiful. He gave me a smug little look as he folded his arms in front of his chest and leaned his shoulder against the door frame. “I know that’s why you came to the mansion. I could feel it as it was etching itself into your beautiful flesh.”
“I told you I couldn’t be owned. You had no right to put it on me in the first place,” I replied coldly.
“You are mine, Syn. Make no mistake of thinking otherwise. I own you until after your Transition.” His lips kicked up into a wicked grin and his eyes slid down my body slowly. His voice was soft, tempting, and beguiling.
“I agreed to it, yes, but not a single moment after it.”
He snorted, and shook his head. “Who says I want more?”
Ouch. I actually flinched at his words. “Is there an actual reason you’re here, Ryder? Or, did you just come to gloat, because you branded your fucking pet?”