Chapter 11

After wandering around the castle, Harper finally found the courtyard Jared had mentioned. She saw no exits, no way out of the stone structure.

She couldn't make a phone call, either. Her cell was missing, and she knew he'd done that on purpose.

As if one could get a signal within these imposing stone walls. As she entered the soft green grass, where an archery target rested against one wall, she had an epiphany.

If I am this great magickal being Sonia says, I should be able to use my powers to get the hell out of here.

No longer intimated by her circumstances or the dizzying trajectory her life had taken, she felt buoyed by hope.

Jared stood near the target, dressed in black trousers, a form-fitting black T-shirt and boots. A quiver filled with arrows was slung over one shoulder. The clothing set off his trim, muscled body.

She tried to ignore the shiver of desire snaking through her, as if she were butter melting on a hot skillet.

Making a slight, formal bow, he gestured to the target. "You asked about hobbies. This is one. Have you ever shot at a target?"

"I've shot beams of electrons in an electron microscope to magnify minute particles of igneous rock."

His brow wrinkled. "Sounds fascinating. This is quite different."

Jared walked several paces from the round target and motioned for her to step back. "I'll demonstrate and then you can try it."

He pulled several arrows from the quiver and shot in quick succession, all hitting the bullseye. Harper frowned.

"You're obviously quite good. But being an expert in an activity must be boring."

Jared tilted his head. "Boring how?"

"If you're perfect in it, there's no way to improve. No challenge."

"I never considered that," he mused. "Then let me teach you. It is far more interesting than shooting electrons, though I daresay not as… scientific."

As he came close and slung the quiver over her shoulder, Jared handed her the bow. He stood behind her, his body cradled into hers as he showed her how to pull back on the bow.

The activity reminded her of a far more pleasant, and dangerous one that involved both of them getting naked…

Harper thought of electrons and volcanic rock, desperately trying to ignore the hardness of the male behind her, the obvious male reaction he had to snuggling against her. So firm and long… it would be like shooting a thick, steel arrow into her body, only an arrow designed to stroke and thrust, creating a friction that would have her clawing at the sheets and screaming her pleasure…

She gulped and let the arrow fly. It hit the stone wall.

"Not bad." Jared stepped back. "It takes time. Try again."

Harper did, shooting arrows at the wall until she finally hit the edge of the target. He applauded.

"Well done."

No mocking in his dark eyes. She beamed at him as she handed back the bow and quiver. "Thanks."

This time, his expression turned thoughtful. "Do you believe in soul mates?"

Harper blinked. Such an odd question when they barely had met. "I suppose. Never quite thought about it. Why?"

Jared paused in fitting the bow with an arrow. "What do you think a soul mate is supposed to be? Someone perfect for you?"

She thought a moment. "My adoptive parents certainly were not soul mates. But I'd like to think my birth parents were. I suppose soul mates are people who aren't perfect, but exactly what the other person needs. A mate who doesn't grant your heart's desire, but what your heart needs."

"How do you figure out what your heart needs?"

Harper shook her head. "So many questions. You look deep inside yourself. Trust your instincts. I knew I wanted to be a volcanologist because it was what I needed. I needed a profession that engaged my scientific interest while helping people."

Pointing an arrow at a castle turret, he released it. The arrow wended its way around the courtyard with lazy grace, then spun downward and hit the target on the bull's eye.

Magick. Jared's magick. He had more power than the ability to seduce. And he'd brought her here, so that was another obstacle to overcome. How could she find a way to escape with a demon like this keeping her captive?

Jared glanced at her. "Science sounds like your heart's desire."

"My heart's desire was to make oodles of money, so I'd never again have to eat Ramen noodles for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Enough money to pay off my student loans. Originally, I wanted to be a chemical engineer and work for a chemical company that was paying for science students to get degrees. My heart needed something else – to study geology and become a volcanologist. Chances are I will not get a well-paying job out of the gate because, well, there's not a lot of career choices. But I needed to do it."

Jared shook his head. "I'd have gone for the money."

"Why? You don't need money." With a sweeping gesture she indicated the castle.

"I'm not into helping others as you are. Waste of time. No one ever appreciates you." He shot an arrow into the air, straight up. "Do you think the people you could save from an eruption would thank you?"

As it landed on the ground before her, she picked it up and handed it back. "No. Saving them is thanks enough."

Maybe some found Jared disagreeable, but he intrigued Harper. She adored mysteries – mysteries of this ancient planet, mysteries of science and solving them. Jared Griffin was a mystery as well. She sensed deep inside, he was lonely and hid it through a prickly, albeit handsome, exterior.

"Why do you ask about soul mates? Do you believe in them?"

Jared shrugged and fitted the arrow into the bow.

"You need to find your soul before you can discover your soul mate."

"You said you were cursed by a witch. What kind of curse? Does it have to do with soul mates?" she asked.

Jared didn't answer, but his expression tightened. He pointed the arrow straight at her and released it.

Gasping, she went to duck, but the arrow followed her move. Seconds before it struck her chest, she flung out her hands.

Blue fire shot out, engulfing the arrow and disintegrating it, leaving gray ash behind on the grass.

Her heart beat faster as she stared at the remains of the arrow, and then looked at Jared. Standing there, not smug nor angry. No, his expression held a certain… satisfaction.

"If you don't like me asking questions, hello, tell me instead of trying to kill me!"

"Kill you? With an arrow? My dear it would take a great deal more than a simple steel-tipped arrow to do you any harm. I was testing your powers."

"A heads up would have been nice!"

"And allow you could take the time to think it over, analyze the situation? No, you need to flex your powers instantly, use them as reflexes the same as you would with other parts of your body."

He set the bow on a nearby stand and hung the quiver there as well.

"You have powers beyond your imagination," he said softly.

"All this time you planned to target practice on me?"

"Perhaps."

The noncommittal answer frustrated her. Harper blew out a breath. "Does it have something to do with why you brought me here?"

"You might say." Jared stroked a hand along his bearded cheek. "Call me your temporary mentor. I wish to teach you how to use the magick you deny exists."

Harper shook her head. "I still can't believe this is happening to me. It feels like a dream."

Jared waved a hand and the target vanished. "Is that a dream? My being able to make things disappear?"

She backed away as his expression tightened, and he advanced toward her. "Wake up Harper. This is not a dream, and you need to accept this is real and powerful and you are one of us. Not human. Everything has changed."

It couldn't be changed forever. Surely, she had some control over her life, over everything. "If you say I have this magick, then I should have powers to do whatever I wish."

"I do not know the extent of your magick, only that you possess more powers than ordinary Others." Jared came closer, his dark gaze burning into her. "Magick enough for the demon to covet what you have. That makes you dangerous, but now, you are vulnerable, like a newborn babe."

Every nerve in her body quivered with anticipation as he lifted his hand and caressed her cheek. The gentleness in his touch and the intensity in his eyes stirred something in her, filled with wonder, awe and pure desire. What was it about this enigmatic man, who possessed a magick of his own, that cried out to her?

Logic dictated she should be fighting for a way to escape, to return to her previous life. Logic? No, sanity. She'd been kidnapped by a man who professed to be a demon and here she was, melting into him like a simpering, silly girl.

She was a scientist for crying out loud. Not a lovestruck girl.

You have powers beyond your imagination.

Harper looked around the courtyard. "This place is almost like a prison. Why do you isolate yourself here?"

He blinked. "I prefer solitude."

"Solitude can be stifling."

Jared stepped back. "If you dislike my home so much, find a way to escape. You have powers. Use them."

Harper struggled with her emotions. "Fine. I'll find a way out."

Without another thought, she flung out her hand. Arrows sailed out of the quiver on Jared's shoulder and flew through the air toward the stone wall.

They hit the stone and sank into it like a hot knife in butter. Harper's breath hitched. She stared at her hands.

She had done this. She had imagined the arrows overcoming physics and penetrating the seemingly impenetrable rock. Her mind had envisioned it and made it happen.

Her entire life had revolved around trying to make something of herself, longing to be special and make a difference in the world. Always accepting a challenge because her parents had made growing up so tough with their constant disapproval and bickering. Never accepting her, encouraging her, making her feel as if she could never do anything right.

Now she had powers beyond anything she could ever imagine. Magick abilities that could sink mere arrows into rock. Who knows what else she could do?

Her mind zipped over the possibilities. She could endow herself with wealth enough to buy whatever she wanted. Or advance causes dear to her heart. She could…

"You believe me now." Jared crossed his arms over his chest and regarded her with a level look. "Perhaps you will also believe me when I tell you Harper Ashley you are in incredible danger. There is a demon out there who knows what powers you have, and he will stop at nothing to drain your magick…

"And kill you in the process."