you want Matt’s magic? You already have more than enough power.” I didn’t expect him to reply. Ideas tumbled around in my head until one stood out. “You need his ability. The Lady said the power of the Earth Shaker would show us what is to come. She meant visions. But she meant for Merlin to take Poseidon’s power. To enhance it. Only Merlin has visions. Not you. When you took it, Poseidon’s power didn’t grant you anything new, only enhanced what you already possessed. Therefore, you will never be able to have visions. You have ultimate power, but no ability to use it as we need.” My head jerked up to meet his shadowed gaze. “That’s it, isn’t it?”
Vane said, “Ten points to my star student.”
“You’re not my teacher anymore, Vane. I’m sure you’ve been fired by now,” I retorted. Vane was the European History teacher at Acton-Concord High. We’d been missing from school for nearly a month. I’d probably been expelled by now too. “Not even you could charm away that long of an absence.”
“Is that a dare?” He chuckled a hollow laugh.
My chin jutted out, but I didn’t reply. He was a predator, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. Could a predator keep his word?
His eyes narrowed. “I see you need convincing that I’m powerful enough. If that is what you require, you shall have it.” He walked closer again. “The Earth Shaker enhanced my magic to the extreme. All my magic, but especially the one I’m strongest in—persuasion.”
Before I could blink, he took my hand from my side. His hand enclosed mine, our palms touching. As soon as he did, a sizzle of electricity shot up my arm, straight into my chest, speeding up my heart, and beyond my abdomen until it curled my toes. It left me achy, breathless, and completely wanting.
“Please,” I whispered. I would have done anything to be near him.
“You see—I don’t even have to speak anymore,” he said in a silky tone.
The Dragon’s Eye amulet flared against my skin. He pushed past it. The amulet cooled and I realized I had no defense against him. Transfixed, I stared into his eyes and all I saw was a deep abyss. His grip tightened, a thumb pressing into the back of my hand with hard pressure. It filled me with an overwhelming need. I wanted nothing more than to agree to whatever he asked. “Bend to me,” his voice whispered in my head, a soft suggestion that lingered inside my eardrums until I neither heard nor thought of anything else but him.
I was drowning.
All I had to do was say okay and he would save me. I opened my mouth to do just that. If he’d asked me to drop to my knees and beg him, I would do just that.
Vane let me go. Suddenly bereft, I shuddered a black emptiness left me exposed. I needed him to fill it. I shook my head and backed away. Even though he released me, the desire to please him stayed strong. I gulped, trying to swallow the longing down.
“Convinced yet? Or do you need more?” He took a step toward me.
I held up my hand to stop him. I didn’t want him to touch me. I didn’t want to be that much out of control. Pulling together my bruised pride, I scowled at him. “You made your point.”
“Good.” The predator watched me. “We are running out of time. What do you say, Ryan? Will you choose Merlin and allow your friends to die? Or will you give me what I want?”
I stared at him.
In reality, my body was on a rooftop and the tsunami was coming. Within my mind, through the Dragon’s Eye, I faced the tsunami already upon me. Vane.
I bit my lip, debating.
I knew he could fix this. Yet how I could pay his price? To pay with something that was not mine to offer. To give Matt to him when I couldn’t be sure that he wouldn’t get hurt. I took a slow breath. “Even if I agreed, it wouldn’t matter. I came here looking for Matt and he’s not here.”
Vane’s gaze dropped to my amulet. He watched it rise and fall against my chest. “Have no fear, DuLac. I can fix that too.”
I ground my teeth. He’d used the amulet to read my thoughts again.
I pictured smacking him in the face.
Shadows deepened the slanted lines of Vane’s cheekbones as he gazed back at me with cold expressionless eyes. My insides