Chapter 16

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

K ormac kept his distance from Fionna as they headed for Lomar's cell. When he'd grabbed her to keep her from falling, he'd not expected the intense surge of lust as he held her against him.

A lust he couldn't act upon.

For one, he needed her aid still and he knew better than to mix business with pleasure. Second, she was a witch. A man would be foolish to tangle with one lest she hex his manhood—and yes, now that he believed in magic he believed the rumors that claimed witches could do just that. And lastly, seducing her might be dangerous because he already felt things for her, an interest he'd never experienced with any woman. Not even a full day she'd been here, and he already couldn't imagine the world without her.

Not good. He really should have a companion sent to his room. Maybe after they dealt with Lomar.

As they neared the cell, he noticed the guards appeared shaken, their expressions pale.

"Has something happened?" Kormac asked.

"He's worse than usual," Namno stated. "He went into the chains easily enough, but the moment the sun went down, he started ranting."

"About?" Kormac prodded.

Namno glanced at Fionna and hesitated.

She cocked her head. "You can repeat it. I promise I won't faint or overreact."

Despite the permission Namno struggled to say, "He wants to torture you, Envoy, in the most painful way possible."

Any other woman would have been in hysterics. Not Fionna. "I wonder why he's so fixated on me. A good sign, I think. It means he fears I can actually do something."

As to her reasoning, Kormac tended to agree. Why else the sudden rabid hatred of a woman just arrived? "We shouldn't be too long, but keep the door locked until my signal."

"Yes, Warlord." Namno held it open and shut it firmly the moment they entered the cell, the click showing he'd obeyed.

Kormac eyed Lomar suspended in chains against the far wall. His head leaned back, his eyes closed. "Lomar?"

"Lomar's not home," was the sibilant reply. The head snapped up and when the eyes opened, the pupils were large and black. The smirk, malicious. "The witch, the bitch, the cunt who needs a stitch has returned," the thing in charge cackled, despite the medallion shining bright. Lomar shook his head and grunted. "Sorry. It's being rather insistent this evening."

"I'm sorry it's being more troublesome than usual. It appears it wants to chat with me," Fionna said in a soothing tone as she neared Lomar. "Would you mind if we allowed it?"

Lomar grimaced. "You really don't want to hear what it has to say."

"Actually, I do. I could use a good laugh after that awkward dinner with the warlord's mother."

"Awkward was me trying to keep the hands of those women from my lap," grumbled Kormac.

A faint smile creased Lomar's lips. "I see your mother is still trying to marry you off."

"When has she ever stopped?" Kormac strode to a spot in front of Lomar. "Are you ready to lose yourself?"

"No." Lomar sighed. "But I know it must be done. The lady witch explained she must study before she attempts to fix what's been done to me."

Kormac steeled himself before leaning close to remove the medallion from his friend's neck. The body stiffened for a moment then relaxed. An eerie smile split Lomar's lips before he purred, "That feels better."

"Who are you?" Fionna asked without preamble.

"Your biggest nightmare."

"Funny, you don't look like that gruel we had to eat in the famine a decade ago. I swear, a bowl of mud would have been tastier."

Kormac crossed his arms and stood behind Fionna, close enough to act but giving her the space to work. If you could call her antagonizing the thing inside Lomar work.

"You can act brave all you want, witch, when I am free?—"

"When?" she interrupted. "Oh, that's not going to happen."

"You can't stop it," it hissed.

"If that's true, then why do you want to kill me?" she countered.

"Because you're annoying."

"I think it's because you're afraid I can unravel what you've done to Lomar. And once I figure that out, I can teach others."

"Teach who? The Srayth don't have witches. Airiok made sure of that."

"Not true. I'm half Srayth and I have the gift."

"A rarity. Those few who are born with it have no clue and never will because I will hunt them out and eat their hearts."

"Again, proving my point. You fear witches. Was it a witch who locked you away?" she asked, tapping her chin.

"Enough!" it yelled, straining against the chains. "You try to confuse me with your words, but I won't be fooled."

"I forget how smart you are," she said with a smirk. "So smart you got trapped for how long in that cave?"

"I was tricked!"

"Wait, are you admitting you were dumb?" Fionna batted her lashes innocently as she kept riling up the entity possessing Lomar.

"Perhaps death is too good for you," it huffed. "You need to be put in your place. To be made to beg for mercy. To scream as you are torn open by a cock?—"

Kormac almost swung at that last threat, but Fionna handled it first.

"Ah yes, the good ol' rape threat. If I wasn't sure before, I definitely know you're male now. Whenever confronted by a strong woman, you think you can shut us up with your shaft. Bring it near me and I'll show you what witches do to rapists. We make eunuchs look well-endowed."

"Argh!" The thing heaved against the chains binding it and banged against the wall, shouting incoherently.

"Enough. You're hurting Lomar's body," she sternly stated with a wave of her hands.

Lomar froze in place. The body did anyhow. The eyes—dark pits of evil—glared, yet its voice remained unfettered. "I won't be so easily subdued when I'm free. Your power is nothing compared to mine."

"Agreed, your magic is unlike that of the witches. The threads are not a color I recognize."

"You are gazing upon the might of death magic," it boasted. "And before you ask, it's long been banned. Humans and their morals," it mocked. "They quiver at the thought of sacrificing for greatness and that is why they will always be weak."

"Says the monster beaten by us."

"Filthy cunt!" it spat, but it could do nothing else as its limbs remained frozen. A sobering reminder of just what Fionna could do with seemingly little effort. It might explain why Airiok had witches eradicated during his time. But was the reason fear, or something else?

"I think I've heard enough from you." With a wave of her hand, the monster lost its voice and Fionna studied Lomar's body intently before turning to say, "I've seen enough. Put the medallion on."

Kormac draped it over Lomar's head and knew it worked by the change in the gaze.

Without any noticeable movement, Fionna released Lomar from her spell, and he slumped, mumbling, "Sorry."

"For what? I knew what to expect when I asked to speak with the thing using your body," she stated to reassure Lomar.

"And all you got were insults. Nothing useful." Lomar sighed.

"Not true. The creature revealed more than it realized. I think I'll be ready to try something in a day or two. I just need to gather a few items before I attempt the removal."

"Really?" It wasn't just Lomar who exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't get too excited. What I want to try might not work."

"At least you haven't told me it's hopeless, though." Lomar smiled, a genuine thing that lit up his face. "Thank you."

A phrase repeated by Kormac as they exited the dungeon.

"Don't thank me. I haven't freed him yet."

"You will," he stated with confidence. "You're too smart not to figure this out." He noted the pink in her cheeks at the compliment.

"Amelia says I'm too brash."

"That would be your Srayth blood coming out."

She snorted. "If you say so."

"These items you require, how can I help gather them?"

"You can't. The tools I need must have specific traits that only I will recognize. I will hit your market tomorrow. While there, I might visit Lady Frieda to see if she has artifacts with the symbols."

"Not alone."

"I'm sure I'll be fine shopping or are you telling me your city has a problem with thieves and whatnot?"

"There are no issues of that sort, but you are an outsider."

"And?"

"They will not bargain in good faith."

"I know how to avoid being fleeced."

"There are some who might act untoward if they realize you're from Acca."

"I've been spat on and insulted before," she stated with a shrug.

An admission that made him bristle. "Not in my city you won't. We'll go after the morning meal."

"We? You do realize how it will look if you come with me?"

"Like we are lovers," he stated with an arched brow. "That's already the assumption."

"It's like you don't care."

"I don't. Do you?"

"Depends. How worried do I have to be about Srayth's maidens trying to poison or run me over in the streets?"

He laughed. "Our women aren't violent."

"Has someone told your mother? Pretty sure she's pummeled a few people in her life."

"With words or a look, never her hands."

"If you say so…"

As they reached the main level, he asked, "Are you adjourning for the evening?" He found himself not ready to lose her presence. Blame his excitement over a possible cure for Lomar.

"I was going to do some more reading."

"Would you mind reading Airiok's journal aloud?" The request slipped out of him without thought.

"Why, Warlord, are you asking to join me in my bedchamber?"

His lips curved. "Or we could bring it to mine. My chairs are more comfortable, and I most likely have a snack laid out."

"Oh, food." She licked her lips, such an innocent gesture but he almost dragged her close to taste. "Let me grab the book. Then we'll go to your room and really get the rumor mill spinning."

Only that never happened, because when Fionna entered her chamber, she frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought I left the book on the bed." She pointed.

"Perhaps someone came in and tidied."

He helped her search high and low only to concede the tome was gone. Even worse, when he left her—reluctantly—and returned to his chamber, it was to find Khaal's journal also missing.

The citadel had a thief.