14. Mira

fourteen

Mira

Hands clasped behind his back, Tairyn's broody stare is fixed on his feet as he wordlessly falls further behind. Once again, I try to track the twists and turns of our route, to no avail. My memory is shit. But I doubt a floor plan would help me even if I had one.

The tendrils of his magic wrap around me, lifting me past the ever-shifting stratifications on the walls. The vibrant layers swell and shift, creating a mesmerizing display that captures my attention completely. As I take it all in, I can't help but think of Callum and how he would marvel at this sight. Not only is it visually stunning, but there is something deeper at play here - a change in the very composition of the sediment that hints at a new era dawning before us. It's as if the walls themselves are alive and ready to tell their story.

Ok, I've obviously spent way too much time with Callum if that's what I'm thinking about as Tairyn marches me upstairs with a murderous twist to his frown.

I tightly cross my arms over my chest, feeling both indignant at being carried like a baby and seeking some semblance of comfort. Why was he so close to the dungeon when the earthquake began? Was he already on his way to torture me? But that couldn't be right. He just healed me. He wouldn't want to hurt me now, would he?

A heavy wooden door creaks open to expose a sitting room, and I immediately notice a chair that is identical to the one he used when he pinned me against it and spanked me. I can still feel the way his chest heaved as I slammed my fists against him, like trying to push against a solid mountain.

As a fire suddenly ignites in the hearth with a puff of purple magic, my gaze is not drawn to its mesmerizing flames. Instead, I can't help but stare at the floor-to-ceiling glass wall on the opposite side of the room. As sunlight floods in through the open balcony door, a gentle breeze wafts through. The snowy mountain peaks against the brilliant blue sky capture my attention. Inhaling deeply, I savor the fragrance of liberation and spring all at once.

I'm gently placed on a plush chaise lounge near the hearth covered in a crushed blue velvet. The furnishings are sparse but luxurious, but I can't keep my eyes from the bellowing curtains of sheer white cotton.

Tairyn clears his throat, drawing my attention to him as he leans against a tall bookshelf and crosses his arms over his chest. "Are your rooms to your liking, then?"

A hint of playful teasing laces the words, and for a moment I consider how to proceed. He's powerful. There's no doubt about that. He's also made it abundantly clear how easily he can control my body and bend me to whatever whims he has. A shiver of uninvited excitement travels down the pit of my stomach at that thought.

My brows pinch together as I cross my arms with a huff. "Why? You going to spank me in here too?"

It comes out pouty, and I suppress a cringe. I shouldn't be pissy with him. I should tread carefully and try to manipulate him into letting me go, or at least telling me what he wants with me.

His eyes twinkle with a glimmer of amusement when he purrs, "Do you want me to?"

The deep honey of his voice hints at desire and sends another unbidden shiver down my spine. I glare at him, willing my heart to stop pounding so fast. His smug grin only widens.

The room grows silent as we lock eyes, tension curling between us like a live wire. Tairyn's gaze is intense and for a moment, I'm lost in it. But then he moves away from the bookshelf with a fluid grace, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on the spines of the books as he passes.

"What do you want with me? Why bring me here at all?"

Standing, I grimace at the pain shooting through my mostly healed leg as I put weight on it, but I don't care. I won't sit and let him loom over me.

He turns, pulling himself up to his full height as he steps closer until the smell of him nearly knocks me over. A mix of fresh pine and something uniquely him makes my breath hitch. He's only a couple of steps away, looking down at me with an unreadable expression on his handsome face.

His fingers steeple, one set tapping the others as he finally responds. "I want to bond you, Vessel."

I blink at him, confusion breaking the tension as his words sink in. "Why bring me here, take me prisoner, if you want to bond?"

His green eyes flicker with interest, his lips curl into a smirk as he takes a step towards me. "Maybe I just like the challenge of someone who hates me."

"Maybe you're just full of shit."

His unexpected laugh echoes through the room, bouncing off every corner and echoing back. It's deep and rich like a forbidden dark chocolate truffle sprinkled with flaky sea salt. For a moment, I'm disoriented by the sheer humanity of it.

"You're right," he says, no longer laughing but still radiating amusement. "I am full of shit. But aren't we all?" His words are arrogant, dripping with his self-assuredness. It stirs a strange blend of admiration and irritation within me.

"Admitting it is the first step to recovery," I shoot back, not breaking our eye contact.

"And what's the second step?" He raises a brow at me with an infuriating smirk.

I cross my arms tighter against my chest, tilting my head to one side. "I'm not unreasonable. A genuine apology followed by taking me back to Sunder and Bobble. Oh, and releasing Callum, of course."

His smirk freezes for a brief moment, but then it spreads back across his face like wildfire. His green eyes flash dangerously, a feral spark dancing in their depths. "Releasing Callum? That Shard must have more charm than I give him credit for."

My thoughts stutter to a stunned silence. Shard? My brain dances over our conversations. "You didn't know?" The surprise in Tairyn's voice is genuine.

He eyes me curiously for a moment before nodding slowly. "I suppose it's not your fault you're so oblivious," he comments, his tone almost sympathetic. "Being human does put you at a disadvantage in this realm."

"Does he know who I am?" I cringe at the hope in my tone. If he didn't know, then there's nothing to be upset about.

"Of course. We can sense your presence. Your pull, if you will."

I barely hear him. I've met all the Shards. All my mates. I blink back into reality, a surge of anger at being left in the dark once again.

"And this is how you treat the shared pieces of your soul? You imprison him in that dark, depressing place? For how long, Tairyn? How long has he been there? What kind of monster are you?"

Tairyn's response is a swift, frosty laugh, devoid of any humor that might have touched his lips before. He crosses his arms over his chest, matching my stance. "I'm the monster that's kept him alive, Vessel."

His words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. It comes out like a threat, as if he could end him at any time of his choosing.

"I can't believe you're my mate. I refuse the bond between us." I spit out the words, not even knowing if I can do that.

"Perhaps I should just pin you down right here and take the bond, then." His nostrils flare as his eyes trace down the curves of my body, as if he can smell the rage mixed with a hint of excitement radiating through me. The threat seems empty even as he says them, the thrill of verbally sparring clearly egging him on.

"Surely, you aren't ignorant enough to think that would work. The bond between mates doesn't snap from sex alone. Trust me, I've tried. You have to actually care for each other."

I search his eyes, looking for something there that would hint at his true motivations, but I find nothing. His face is a mask of cool composure. If he really wants to bond me, it would further Sunder's goal of reinstating Dan'thiel. But the longer I spend in this world with these Shards of my mate, the more I realize I don't want that at all. Dan'thiel is nothing and no one to me. The others, however…

He stares at me for a long moment, as if searching my face for truth too. For a moment, we're locked on each other. A challenge dripping in the air between us. Something changes in his posture as he shifts his weight, as if unsure how to proceed.

Finally, he takes a seat in the armchair with a heavy sigh and gestures for me to sit back down on the chaise. "There's no reason to strain yourself, Vessel. I apologize I wasn't able to fully heal you."

For the first time since entering this room, I almost believe him. There's no joke or teasing in his tone. His face almost seems regretful, but just then it's gone. And I'm left wondering whether it was ever there at all.

"That's a start," I tell him in a chiding voice as I reclaim my seat on the chaise. The heat on my cheeks is still pulsing with fuming rage. His easy threats dangle between us, but I know I have to play the game with him. Make him think he's winning something. He makes a thoughtful humming noise that seems to reverberate deep in his chest.

"I suppose it is," he replies, raising an eyebrow. His gaze, intense and heated, rests on me for a moment before drifting towards the old bookshelf in the room's corner. "I'm not entirely heartless," he adds softly, almost sounding like he's trying to convince himself. "Of course, I would not force myself on you or anyone else."

I scoff before I can think better of it. "Could have fooled me."

His lips twist into a thoughtful frown. "You clearly are not interested in bonding yourself to me, and I do not want to release you from my home. We can come to an arrangement then. A bonded bargain?"

My brows pull towards my nose with suspicion as I eye him carefully. The phrase is pretty self-explanatory, some kind of magically sealed agreement. "Go on."

"A simple arrangement. After you bond me, I'll let you leave my home."

"How do I know you'll fulfill you part of the bargain?"

"A bonded bargain is sealed with Chroma. Should one party fail to fulfill their promise, they will lose all ability to channel Chroma. It's a very powerful motivator."

"But I can't control the bond. It may never happen. I can't make myself care about you."

He watches me silently for a moment, but no emotions cross his face. "This is the deal I'm offering you."

I consider this for a moment, but I need more out of this deal. I seriously doubt that we'll be able to bond. I just don't see either of us growing to care for one another. Sure, he's handsome, but that's as deep as his good qualities go. He locked me up to get me alone. And he imprisoned poor Callum for disagreeing with him. Or maybe just for being a Shard.

"Sunder once told me that the Red Order are known as the Spinners of Fate, but I don't even know where to begin learning how to use my red magic. How to inflict luck or misfortune on others. I want you to teach me how. And how to use white, like you did."

"I can't guarantee that you'll learn even if I try to teach you, but yes, fine. I will give you lessons in Chroma."

He waves his hand dismissively at the idea, clearly unconvinced that I'll be successful. I consider the words longer, playing them over in my head. There's no stipulation about me not trying to escape or obeying him or even touching him. It seems like a simple agreement. If we bond, I can leave.

I chew on my lip, knowing Sunder would be furious with me for making a deal with this guy. But Sunder isn't here. I need to get back to him. Besides, if Tairyn is giving me lessons in Chroma, that means he'll need to lower my shield sometimes. Maybe I'll be able to reach out to Bobble and Sunder through our bond.

It's the best chance that I have.

"It's a deal."