kneeled beside her, placed his fingertips around her face, and closed his eyes.
Faith’s eyes rolled back, exposing the whites of her eyes. Her body shook violently.
I twisted in Arik’s arms. “He’s killing her!”
“Hush,” he said. “He’s only searching to see if she’s still being compelled.”
Merl removed his hand and the pulsing cords binding Faith disappeared. “Do you desire to kill me?” asked Merl.
“No.”
“And Gia. Do you wish to kill her?”
“No.” Faith shot me a smile. “Am I free?”
“Yes, but I want you to come with me. I must run a few tests to make sure you’re completely released.” Merl stretched his hand to her and helped her up. “Hurry. The sun is almost up.”
Veronique turned to the others. “Did you see zat bubble?”
Merl released Faith’s hand. “I think it was a rather large globe.”
“Did it remove ze charm?” Veronique pressed.
“I’m not certain. I will have to look into it further.” Merl headed up the hill. “We must hurry and get Faith to safety.” Lei threw a black cloak around Faith’s head and hurried along with them.
“You can let me go now,” I snapped at Arik.
He released me. “Can you wait here with me? I want to talk to you alone.”
“Why? What do you want?” I wasn’t in the mood for a tongue-lashing, and only stayed because I was curious to hear what he had to say. The crowd broke up, and most moseyed up the path back to their rooms.
Veronique hovered behind. “Shall I wait for you?”
Arik removed his helmet. “No, there’s no need.”
She pouted and stormed after the last of the gawkers, leaving Arik and me alone.
I kept my gaze on the sun rising over the hills. I didn’t want to play nice, I had a throbbing headache and my body was weak. “What do you want?”
“You were inside a bubble. It expanded beyond you and engulfed Faith. Then the shackles unlocked.”
His revelation scattered my anger and I teetered off balance. I looked around, like some of the pink light might still be swirling about, and shook my head. How I’d done…whatever…was a mystery. “So, what was it?”
“I don’t know. Are you all right?”
My legs were rubbery, and I was dizzy. And a little shocked. No, really shocked. A few days ago I couldn’t conjure a spark of light without help and now I was flinging pink globes. “Um…maybe…I think so.”
He dropped his helmet and cupped my shoulders, rotating me to face him. “This all has to be frightening for you.”
His tenderness blew away the last of my irritation and my head drooped. “I’m—”
“And don’t say you’re fine. You don’t have to be strong around me.” He leaned closer with a serious look on his face.
I held my breath. He was too close. I took a shaky step back from him, but stopped when he stared at me with a frustrated look.
He dragged his fingers through his messy helmet hair. “I apologize… I didn’t mean…”
I stared off at the empty field. “No worries. I get it. We’re just friends.”
“Just friends, huh?” He sighed. “Friends don’t think of each other the way I think of you. The danger you face. I feel driven to protect you. Maybe it’s because I admire you so much. Facing a world you know nothing about and not cowering in a corner. You fought me—hard—to save someone you’d just met who wanted to kill you. And pushed me away when you were wounded so I could guard your friends. But that makes me worry about you more, because you’re not being careful.”
My chest tightened. I wondered what his game was. What he wanted from me, when he already had someone else, someone hot and sexy. “What do you want me to say to that?”
“I don’t know. Something. Anything. Nothing.”
“Okay, how about Veronique. The rules. Remember them?” Despite my resentment that he’d sort of led me on, I didn’t want Arik banished to a prison in Somnium. No one deserved being tormented by an eternity of nothingness.
He heaved a deep sigh. “We’ve been here before. I told you there’s nothing there.”
I snorted. “Well, the body language between you two the other night suggests differently.” I exhaled a slow breath. No need getting upset about it—there was nothing between us. I threw my hands up. “I’m sorry. I get it. You guys have to keep it a secret. But how can you risk being with her? That’s a real dumbass thing to do.”