long journey ahead at Ravenhold.”
“Three laps?” I ask innocently.
He steps back and smirks at me while I straighten.
Roger’s whistle shrieks twice. "Eloise. Dorian. Centre of the courtyard. Now.”
Bewildered, I turn to face Roger as he strides over, face dark.
“Oh, fuck. Now look what you’ve done,” growls Dorian.
“You are not permitted to stop.” He jabs a finger at a circle in the middle of the square. "Both of you. In there. Ten minutes.”
As if to mock me further, the rain falls harder. My weak body wants to collapse on the ground. This man is a sadist.
Roger crosses his arms tightly over his bear-sized chest and I attempt not to stare at his paw. Now I’m close, I can see his small eyes and the slight snout to his lower face.
I stumble towards the painted white circle that measures barely a metre in diameter and step inside.
Dorian huffs as he moves next to me. We stand in silence for a few moments as Roger barks at the remaining students to move back into the academy.
“I’ll be back in ten. Don’t leave.” Roger ducks through the door and I’m left in the dire weather, in close proximity to the guy the fates keep dragging me to.
Chapter Nine
I’ve watched human endurance shows on TV—Ivan had a perverse interest in human pain. Literally perverse, because once, after an argument, he sent me a clip of him and a human girl that almost made me throw up. This was a not-so-subtle hint that he plans similar depraved things for me.
I shake away the thought and focus on the sensation of the rain to distract me, but the frozen raindrops have numbed my skin.
Dorian zips his jacket up to his chin and covers his sodden hair with the hood. His eyes glitter with amusement. “Man, I’m glad I have this. Didn’t anybody tell you to bring a jacket?”
“No. I will next time.”
He nods. “Your hands are blue. Can’t you conjure some fire to warm yourself up?”
“You know spells like that are blocked at Ravenhold.”
“Don’t eat the shitty food they serve and that situation might change.” He arches a brow.
“Are you saying they poison us?” I ask, appalled.
“Some of us suspect that they feed the kids here something weird. Probably just a rumour, but who knows?”
“Why would you tell me this?"
He smirks and digs his hands in his pocket. “I told you, I like a challenge, and you’re not much of a challenge if you can’t fight back.”
I tip my face to the dark skies and grit my teeth. If I were away from the island, I could change this weather to something pleasant—and conjure the fire he's teasing me about.
“Roger said ten minutes, but he'll take longer.” Dorian yawns. “Sit down. Your legs are shaking. I don't want you collapsing into my arms just yet.”
“I’m fine,” I say through still gritted teeth as I look at the puddle beneath my feet.
He steps closer and I step back. “Stay inside the circle, Eloise.”
This is the first time he’s spoken my name and his rich tone sends an extra shiver for the wrong reason. He’s intense, his eyes fixed on mine, holding me in place.
“Roger isn’t here. He won't see if I leave the circle,” I say, refusing to break his gaze.
“Fine. Don't listen to my advice.” He licks raindrops from his lips and drops his scrutiny to my mouth. Dorian shifts, ever so slightly, but enough for me to sense an energy that buzzes between us.
“Don’t come any closer,” I warn.
“Why? What would you do if I did?” he whispers.
I glare.
“Your blood is pumping fast after running. I can practically taste it." He pushes his fringe from where it flattened against his head and edges his face closer to mine. “Tempting.”
Omigod.
I step away from Dorian and his mental grip, and my shoes graze the edge of the painted circle. Instantly, pain shoots from my feet to my legs, sparking through every nerve as if electrocuted. I cry out as my limbs burn and a crackling magic surges into my head.
Black dots dance in front of my eyes and Dorian’s laughter adds to the pain. “I told you not to step outside the circle.”
His voice is muffled as my ears ring, and I stumble forward into the space I left.
“You knew,” I rasp. “You bastard.”
My overworked, shocked body finally refuses to co-operate and my legs crumple beneath me. I land on my backside and the tarmac scrapes a hand as I stop my fall.
Dorian looks down at me, lips