“Where’s the guy responsible for all of this?” Dominic asks and presses his hand against the glass.
“Out but due back soon.”
“Ok, I’m guessing we need to get her out of this contraption .” Dominic hits the side of my prison harder, and the cage rattles around me. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt it move.
“Any suggestions?” Griffon asks.
“One. Can you remember the spell I taught you for smashing a solid when it can’t be broken by normal means?” Dominic questions.
“What shooting a bullet at it?” Griffon nods his head toward a gun tucked in the waistband of Dominic’s pants.
“I swear sometimes I employ idiots. Do you really think shooting a bullet into a magical glass cage is a good idea?”
“It’s probably not the best suggestion I’ve ever made.”
“We need to disintegrate it. Woman…” Dominic addresses me.
“Nyah,” I inform him.
“Ok, Nyah. Stand in the middle of the cage and cover your head with your hands.”
My brother starts to pace the room. He keeps looking at the clock. Time is running out, and Malachi will be home soon to claim me. Quickly getting in position, I wrap my arms over my head.
“I’m ready,” I confirm and wait.
I’ve been in this cage for something like thirty-one million, five hundred thirty-six thousand and three hundred seconds now…and counting. I just want to get out of here and preferably not so I can end up being forced to marry Malachi.
“Griffon,” Dominic calls the other man over while placing both his hands on the cage.
Griffon does the same on the opposite side. He’s standing in front of me, and I look up at him quickly.
He winks at me and mouths, “It’ll be ok.”
I don’t know why, but I trust him.
His eyes roll back in his head, and the next thing I know, the cage turns into the finest crystals of sand that flutter to the ground. I make sure my arms stay over my head, so I don’t get any of grit in my eyes. When everything settles, I look up again.
“I’m free.”
Connor, still in his stag form, walks over to me, and I stroke along his side.
“Can you turn Connor back to a human as well?” I ask.
Both men shake their heads.
“It’s a curse and can only be undone by the witch who placed it on him. Either by the witch’s death or his recantation of the spell. It’s the only way.”
Connor nuzzles his nose against my cheek.
“We’ll find a way, Connor. If he doesn’t have me, death will come to him soon,” I reassure my brother.
Dominic steps over the sand on the floor.
“I need to get back to the office. I’ll let you finish up here, Griffon, and then get back to the job I’m actually paying you for.”
Griffon nods at him, and Dominic disappears in a puff of smoke.
“Is he always so grumpy?” I ask.
“Pretty much.” Griffon takes my hand. I’m a little unsteady on my feet as I step over the sand. It feels strange after a year in a cage to finally be free. “We should get out of here before the old man comes back.”
Connor stamps his hooves and jumps to block the doorway.
“What is it? Is there something wrong?” I question, not understanding why he’s stopping us from leaving.
He looks between us both and then does some weird rutting motion.
“Er, it would appear your brother might be horny. Do you and he…er…you know?” Griffon raises an eyebrow at us.
“No, we do not.” I slap him hard across the face for the insult. “I’m a virgin!”
“Nice.” Griffon smirks, rubbing his cheek.
Connor stamps his hooves again to refocus our attention on him. He does the rutting movement again and then steps forward and pushes Griffon and I together with his head. My brother then snorts out a frustrated breath at not being able to get his meaning across to us. He keeps pushing us together and repeating his strange mating behavior.
“Is he trying to play matchmaker?” Griffon asks me, and Connor stamps his hooves excitedly.
It dawns on me what my brother is suggesting.
“Are you insane?” I respond to Connor. “You want me to sleep with him?”
“Woah, what?” Griffon spits out.
Connor prances up and down happily.
“Connor, I don’t even know this man.”
I can’t believe my brother is suggesting this. Does he think I’m some sort of whore, offering my body to the man who rescued me? I should be getting the hell out of this property, not fucking the first man I see…fucking the first man I see!