upheaval because of your demands isn’t helping.” She played on the fact that they always seemed concerned about her magic. It wasn’t honest, but she focused on getting out of this without more direct confrontation. That would only make them more determined to keep her here. Running for the door would do the same, although the urge to do that was strong.
“You’re handling your magic. Don’t think we haven’t begun to recognize the signs when you’re distressed. Although the way you focused it today is new. We’ll teach you ways to use that soon.” Colm shook his head and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That excuse isn’t going to work. You are going to sit there.”
“How are you going to make me?” She threw the words out there without thinking because his smirk made her angry. Why hadn’t that worked as it always did?
“This way.” Colm took three long steps to her, picked her up and started walking back across the room.
Cami stiffened momentarily when his hands touched her waist, but after that surprised instant, she exploded. Her feet slammed into his legs and she struggled in his hold. She didn’t think. It was all reaction to the panic churning inside her. Colm grunted once as her foot struck his knee, but otherwise gave no indication it affected him. She didn’t have much time to calm down or even tell him to let her go before he put her down so close to the pillows that the heels of her slippers touched the edge of one of fluffy cushions. He didn’t release her, though.
“You’re going to settle down now.” Colm frowned down at her and held her when she tried to step out of his loosened grip.
“Let go of me. You know I don’t like feeling trapped.” She wriggled in his grip.
“I told you we’ve been too easy on her. She thinks that we’ll back off.” Colm looked over at Linc.
“Well, we have backed off before when the magic was high or she was afraid.” Linc nodded. “So I can understand why she thinks it might work.”
“Stop talking around me.” She looked from one man to the other. It was fast becoming clear that this wasn’t going to be the same as the other times. They weren’t going to give her any space.
“Sit down. I know you felt the magic when we brought you into the room. That ensures you stay in here while we complete our duties. Now put your ass on those pillows, because we can and will make you, even if it’s not what we want to do.” Linc narrowed his eyes.
“And behave as you know you should. This is one fight you’re not going to win. After we finish with the judgment, we’ll give you a few lessons for your magic to teach you how to use that focused magic. Just remember, we will be extremely angry if you use it against us. We’ll consider it more than enough reason to put an end to all the distance and tricks you use to keep us separate.” Colm’s lips tilted up into a smile.
She knew few things would make him happier than that. Maybe she was simply reacting. She honestly hadn’t thought about closing the distance between them. She’d been more focused on keeping things from changing. There had been nothing in their behavior to worry her. She hadn’t seen any evidence to back up her fears about men in power. They didn’t misuse the trust their people gave them.
On top of that, Colm, the man who actively hunted for a woman who wasn’t his mate, seemed to be intent on making her admit she belonged with them. The soft, slow approach had come to an end. Now, they were making demands. She didn’t know what to do about it and would have to think about it. In the meantime, she wasn’t going to give in without at least one more protest.
“No.” She took a step back and lifted her chin. “I don’t want to do it.”
Linc’s fingers clasped around her arm. Usually the most reasonable of the two men, his eyes burned with stubborn determination.
He shook his head at her. “Don’t make us force you to sit and then use a spell to keep you in place. You know how being kept there will make you feel. We don’t want to cause you any panic, but you will sit in your rightful spot. We don’t expect you to be happy about