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“Let me go!” she ordered him. She was sick of being manhandled by bullies. It was as if someone had painted a target on her head that said ‘Easy Pickings’. Well, no more.

When he didn’t release her, she aimed a kick at his shin, hoping that if nothing else, surprise would make him loosen his grip. Instead, the impact on her pins-and-needles foot caused her to hiss in pain.

“Do you seriously think you can fight me?Me?” Aven laughed at her. It was a horrible noise, full of dark amusement. She shuddered at the sound, more chilled now than when she’d been in the icy water.

Alex winced when his fingers tightened even more around her arm, and she started to lose feeling in it—again. There was no way she could even try to fight him in her current half-frozen state.

“Let’s take a walk, shall we?” Aven said. “It’s time to test what you can do.”

He pulled her forward and she had no choice but to follow. Despite her annoyance—and her growing fear—she managed to amuse herself by kicking water up at him with every forced step. But when his grip increased to an almost snapping-bone level she followed along sedately, although grumbling all the way. She was tired, hungry and freezing. Not to mention, soaking wet. All she wanted was some food, a shower and her bed. Was that too much to ask?

“Why are you here, Aven?” she asked him wearily. “What can you possibly want from me?”

He laughed again. “Strangely the two are the same, as fate would have it. I’ve been searching for you for years, it would seem. And now here you are, perfectly situated to see to my will.”

“Not likely,” Alex murmured.

“You can’t resist me, Alexandra,” Aven said confidently. “And even if you could, you wouldn’t. For who better to aid me than you? We’re destined, don’t you see? And together we’ll change the world.”

“I like the world the way it is,” Alex said. “So it looks like you’re on your own with that.”

He just smirked knowingly and didn’t respond.

She tried to yank her arm back, hoping that his concentration would have lapsed somewhat, but no such luck. “Seriously, Aven. Let. Me. Go,” she said. And then for emphasis she added, “Now.”

“What are you going to do?” he asked, not breaking his stride. “You can’t fight me, you can’t escape me. There’s no point in trying. You’ll give in; it’s inevitable. You’ll see.”

“Not more riddles,” Alex grumbled.

“Riddles?” he asked, pausing to look into her eyes. “What riddles?”

“None of your business.” She turned her face away and noticed that they were already at the top of the stairs that led down into the Library.

“Tell me of what you speak or I’ll—”

“You! You’re not allowed in here!”

It was the old librarian,finally, and Alex wilted in relief at the sight of him.

“Who’s going to stop me, old man? You?” Aven laughed again, that horrible, chilling laugh.

“I don’t have to stop you, Aven Dalmarta, for you know as well as I that you can’t go where you wish without permission,” the librarian said, shaking his wooden cane angrily.

“Without permission,” Aven repeated, emphasising the words and looking meaningfully at Alex before turning back to the librarian.

The little man paled, but held his ground. “She won’t help you,” he said. “And she can’t be forced to do so, as you well know. Only through a decision made out of her own free will can you be given permission to enter. And judging by the look on her face, you won’t be receiving what you’ve come for.”

When Aven turned to look at Alex, he clearly didn’t like whatever he saw in her stubborn expression. His beautiful face turned menacing, with his eyes blazing furiously and his lips twisting into a sneer. He was terrifying to behold and Alex flinched away from him, worried that he might actually take a swing at her.

Instead, he let her arm go, and in an instant his features were once again filled with light and beauty.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” he said, his golden eyes begging her to forgive him. “I merely wanted to show you something.”

Alex shook her head and forced herself to ignore everything in her that was willing to believe his apology. It was an act, she knew. He was lying. He’d been lying ever since they’d first met.

“You need to leave,” she said, wishing her voice didn’t sound quite so shaky.

Aven stilled, and she could see the effort it was taking for him to keep the pleasant expression on his face.