Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

PIPER

M y fingers felt numb and hushed voices surrounded me. Pain throbbed through my temples, around my head, and deep into my eyes. My body felt so heavy I couldn't move. Ice-cold water splashed over my face and soaked my shirt. I sucked in a gasping breath, and my body swung back and forth before I put my feet down and steadied myself. There were two things I realized in this moment:

One, being woken up by being doused by ice water was only something a douche would do.

Two, I was absolutely fucking screwed.

"Hello, Marius." I blew drops of water out of my mouth onto the floor between us. My hands were wrapped and bound. They were chained high above my head. I didn't know how long I'd been there, but my arms and fingers were completely numb. I couldn't open my fist with the bindings holding them shut. I didn't know how else to let my magic flow.

He leaned against a table across from me with his arms crossed over his chest. An empty bucket sat next to him. I give you the douche . "Hello, Piper."

"You'll never get away with this." I knew it sounded cliché, but I'd made friends in high places, and with Atlas now on my side, I knew I'd be hunted down soon enough.

"I already have." He shoved away from the table. "You're referring to your very powerful friends, I gather."

"Perhaps." I wasn't going to give anything away. "Or perhaps I plan on killing you myself."

He gave a humorless laugh. "Your magic isn't powerful enough to take me."

"At least I have magic." Low blow, Piper . But I couldn't help myself. He had me chained here like an animal. It wasn't in my nature to cower or beg. Whatever he was going to do, I wanted to get it over and done with. There was no use hanging here dreading what I knew would already be awful.

"Do not speak to me of magic!" He bellowed, and his voice carried and bounced off the rough, rocky walls.

I glanced around, trying to figure out where I was, but the best I got was underground. Which meant that I could've been anywhere. My gut told me I was still in England, but even that could be wrong. He could've carried me through a mirror to anywhere in the world. I tried to make my voice sound bored.

"What the hell am I doing here, Marius?"

"Did you know magic resides in the blood? It's a life force of its own." He moved in closer to me, so close our bodies were mere inches apart. He reached up and ran the backs of his fingers over my cheek.

I threw my head back, jerking away from his touch. The chains rattled and jostled but had little give. Even my ankles were chained to the floor. Panic and fear rose in my stomach, but if life had taught me anything, it was to hide those emotions at all costs. Fear only encouraged bullies to do worse things.

I cleared my throat, giving myself a minute to gather my courage. When dealing with a bully, there was only one thing to do . . . show no fear. "Your point being?"

"I wish to feel the sun on my skin again, the magic in my veins, the power at my fingertips. I had a life stolen from me. Now I want it back." He reached out and put his hands on my hips, taking a moment to press his fingers into the skin where my shirt had ridden up.

"That doesn't answer my question. What am I doing here?" I had the sinking feeling he thought I would be the answer to all his desires.

Marius smirked at me. "Serving my purposes."

I threw my body around, struggling against the restraints. I tried to call upon my power, but it was trapped within my fists. I glared at him. "I'll never serve you anything."

"I bet you taste delicious." He opened his mouth and extended his fangs, then leaned in so close his cheek brushed against mine as he sucked in a deep breath, running his nose over my skin, smelling me. His hot breath fanned over my ear, and I wanted to gag as he whispered, "I wasn't asking."

He leaned back and parted his lips, about to strike . . .