Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,51

That, too, was difficult, not aided in the least by the lines that blurred along his vision. After a moment of staring, he realized that he was now looking down at a bright, glowing bound. He was bound to a chair.

He could sense a presence somewhere nearby, although he couldn‘t pinpoint it. “Hello?” Mathieu’s eyes skimmed along the floor to the wall, voice slurred.

A man with blond hair was leaning against the wall beside the door. He shook his head in response, rubbing a stubbled chin in a pondering way.

“Hey, ’m talking to you!” He half-yelled as he met the blond’s eyes, struggling to get free. It was taking some time, but slowly he was beginning to pull his head together.

It seemed that the man took his gaze as a signal, a cue to cross the room. Long, callused fingers slid into Mathieu’s hair and tilted his head back, searching his face for something. The blazing emerald eyes of the stranger pierced into the depths of his, looking into his soul and making his pulse race.

Feeling his personal space being invaded, Mathieu growled softly and swung a foot up to kick the man in the shin. “’Ey!”

Making a noise of irritation, the man released his white hair, shaking his head in a disapproving manner. In a few long steps the stranger crossed the room and left Mathieu alone in the remaining silence. He took a shaking breath and looked around. Alone, he could try and think, although he was a bit disappointed in himself for ruining his chances of getting some answers. Staring after the man as the door closed, his brow furrowed. He was getting the strangest feeling that he’d met the man before. Yet somehow, he knew he’d never met the stranger in his life.

And then it hit him. “Of course. The dream…” Everything had played out as he had dreamt it would so many years ago. But that still didn’t tell him where Avian was and why he was being held captive to a chair. “Oi! Let me out of here! I want to see Avian!” Mathieu stomped one foot on the ground and regretted it from the pain it caused his hip.

No response came, but yelling into the silence did make him feel a bit better. Unfortunately, the pain behind his eyes hadn’t completely receded yet, making the use of his energy nearly impossible. So, swearing under his breath, he did the only thing that he could think of: he reached out with his mind, searching for either of his Shadowriders. Tesla was the first that he could touch, brushing against the male’s mind lightly.

Tesla’s deep voice filled his head. Mathieu? Mathieu where are you?

I don’t know where I am. Tell me what’s going on. Mathieu thought calmly, trying to prevent himself from going into a panic. That wouldn’t help him now.

There’s a big commotion in the throne room. The King is claiming that you and Avian were attacked, that she was killed.

A lump rose in his throat, eyes welling with tears; the thought was too painful to bear. We were attacked, but both of us were alive. He tried to reassure both Tesla and himself. I haven’t seen Avian since though, but I’m working on it. Listen, can you teleport to me?

Not if you don’t know where you are. Tell me what you remember. Tesla instructed, somewhat placated at the thought that both of them were alive.

Mathieu closed his eyes, thinking. They had guns. A whole squad of them. I killed at least three, maybe four of them, but there were more. I got shot twice and I don’t know what happened after that. Oi, find out what you can and get back to me, okay? He thought, needing to sever the connection before the pounding in his brain returned full force. Mathieu knew he could trust Tesla.

I will. And with that, the Shadowrider pulled away from his end of the connection.

“Damn it. This is ridiculous. Someone let me out of here! I need to find Avian!” Mathieu said loudly to no one in particular. But this time, the door creaked open.

A man with red hair stood looking at him, his face older than the first man, maybe thirty-five or forty. The redheaded man’s arms were muscled under the shirt he wore and a sword hung at his side. “Hello, Mathieu.” The stranger had a glass of bourbon in his hand.

“Who are you and what did you do to Avian?” Mathieu said immediately. Anyone here