Page 9 of Deadly Little Games (Four Ways to Fate #2)

9

“Not exactly what I had in mind,” Crispin said to my back.

I pushed against the nearest stone wall. It couldn’t be real. I couldn’t be entirely trapped here, and without anything to focus on to bring me back. Worse, whatever I had done had pushed Crispin all the way through too.

“You still can’t see them?” My voice was tight with panic.

“As I already explained, you coming here seems to have fully opened the pathway I was trying to create. You brought me all the way here, away from the tools I need in order to return.” I looked back at him as he crossed his arms and tilted his head. “Not that my situation is really worse, other than my only hope of escape being trapped here too.”

I turned fully toward him. “What were you even trying to do? Why come here?”

His blue eyes were the dullest I had yet seen them as he answered, “I was only trying to chart the path. I thought if you could see a path, it might help you to travel.” He shrugged a shoulder. “I suppose in a way, I was correct.” He gestured toward me. “You’re here. You realm jumped. Although, this little pocket is very close to earth. I would not yet task you with traveling to the elven realm. You would probably end up trapped inside a star.”

Clouds shifted across the crumbling hole overhead, darkening the small space. When night fell— if night fell in this place—we would be left in total darkness. “What do you think the chances are of us climbing up to that opening?”

Crispin sighed loudly. “Slim to none, and even if one of us could climb like a spider, we would still be stuck in the wrong realm.”

I narrowed my eyes at his tone. “Let’s can the bad attitude. We’re stuck here because of you, after all.” I stuffed my growing panic back down as I approached him. “We just need to think. We both got here, we can both get back.” I paced across the stone floor of our prison. I could do this. I had traveled once, I could travel again.

Crispin pushed away from the wall he’d been leaning against. “I’m willing to try, but I fear it will be up to you.”

I abruptly stopped my pacing to turn on him. “Why is it up to me? I barely just learned to travel myself. I don’t know if I can take you with me. We might both end up trapped in a star.”

He leaned his head back with another heavy sigh. “I was able to use a mixture of magic and alchemy to travel from my homeland to earth. It took considerable power to blaze a new path, but fortunately I had some old star charts to guide me.” He lowered his head to look at me. “Then when I reached earth, I found I had far less magic than before. I knew right then and there that I would not be able to travel back on my own. And here—” He spread his arms wide. “Here I feel hardly any magic at all.”

I tried to sense what he was talking about, but I really didn’t feel much of a difference.

“You are half celestial, Eva.” He stepped toward me. “You channel the magic of the stars, and the stars are everywhere . Even right up there.” He nodded toward the slowly darkening hole in the ceiling.

I took a moment to consider his words. “So let me get this straight. You left the elven realm only to get trapped on earth. Then you risked traveling here, knowing you might not be able to return.”

“I didn’t mean to actually come here,” he huffed. “I was only trying to create a path for you. Something to use as practice.” He looked away, then muttered, “Only I made a slight miscalculation.”

I crossed my arms. “You know, if we ever get out of here, I’m going to have to seriously reconsider working with you.”

His nose wrinkled at my words. “Well, I suppose I couldn’t blame you,” he said tersely. “Now are you going to try to get us out of here, or not?”

“Considering the alternative is being trapped here for eternity with you,” I stepped toward him, “I’m willing to try.”

He straightened, then looked down at me as I neared. “Splendid. So what did you do to get here? It seemed like the devil had angered you.”

I took a deep breath and let it out. I wasn’t sure what to tell him. That my magic came from a mixture of sex and strong emotions? “Sebastian was trying to help me in his own irritating way. And it worked, though perhaps not how he planned.” I looked around the room. “Though who knows? Maybe he’s just watching, laughing at us.”

“While I do not know the extent of his power, this realm might be a bit too far for him to travel.”

My eyes whipped to his face. “I thought you said we were close to earth.”

“I did. But maybe not quite as close as the hells . . . ” he trailed off.

“Wonderful,” I muttered.

Maybe Sebastian was capable of rescuing me, and maybe not. Either way, I knew I had to try. I reached out toward Crispin. “Give me your hand.”

He looked down at my waiting palm, then up to my face. “Why?”

I extended my hand more forcefully. “Do you want me to try, or not?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment, then he slid his palm over mine.

His skin was warm and dry, but I didn’t sense much else from him. My magic had retreated somewhere deep inside me.

“Great,” I huffed.

He kept his hand in mine. “What is it?”

“Do you trust me?”

His brows lifted. “Trust you? I only just met you yesterday.”

“Well you’re going to have to develop some trust real fast.” I stepped toward him until our bodies nearly touched.

“What are you doing?”

I gritted my teeth. “Less questions would make this easier.”

He watched me wide-eyed for a moment, then his throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Very well.”

Gods, I couldn’t believe I was going to do this. But I could barely feel my magic. I needed something, or someone , to bring it out in me.

I dropped his hand, then placed my palms against his chest, pushing my body against his. I didn’t react to him the way I did to Mistral, but I also didn’t really know him. My reaction to the others had grown over time.

“It would help if you touched me,” I said.

His hands went awkwardly to my waist. “Not that I don’t appreciate the invitation—”

My cheeks were already on fire, and it was growing worse by the moment. I forced myself to meet his eyes. “It’s weird, I know, but touch seems to bring my magic to the surface. It’s only happened so far with two high goblins and Sebastian.”

His eyebrows shot up.

I gave him a warning look. “And I’m only telling you this to try to help you understand. It might be our only way out of here.” I lifted one finger toward his face. “But don’t you dare tell anyone else about it.”

With his eyebrows still raised, he reluctantly nodded. “You have my word.”

“Good. Now kiss me.”

He didn’t make a move. The light changed again overhead. It would be dark far too soon.

I felt ridiculous after arguing about kissing Gabriel, but for once I was in charge, and it made me feel bold. I took his jaw in my hands, then pulled his lips to mine.

I had never kissed an elf before, and for a moment all I could think was, Gods, he tastes like springtime . Then his hands went to my waist, pulling me more firmly against him. He tilted me back, deepening the kiss.

A hint of magic flared within me, reacting to his touch. I could tell he sensed it too when he started to pull away, but my plan was working. We couldn’t lose the thin bond I had established.

Instead I pushed him back against a low slab of stone, straddling him, my action surprising even myself. But the magic was growing. I was starting to see stars. I pushed my fingers through his short hair and kissed him for all that I was worth.

My actions seemed to release the rest of his doubt as his hands went to my hips, grinding me against him. The magic built, but I had no direction. No pathway.

The only thing I had to think of was Sebastian’s smug face. I pictured him standing in Crispin’s tower, laughing at us.

Crispin’s hands went under the edge of my shirt, smoothing across my bare waist, then tickling up my lower back. As the magic between us built, I could feel more of him too. Not his body, but the magic buried deep inside. I could practically taste crisp new leaves, and smell the first flowers of spring. I could feel a gentle clear brook flowing over me.

Our magic reached a crescendo and I focused on Sebastian once again. I closed my eyes as I felt the shift, though I could still see stars behind my eyelids. I knew if I opened my eyes, they would be dancing all around us. A wave of dizziness hit me and I broke our kiss, but held tightly to Crispin‘s shoulders, not wanting to lose him.

We ended up on his work table, tossing aside metal instruments and crinkling papers. I hunched over him, fingers still digging into his shoulders, afraid to move.

A silent moment passed.

“Um, Gorgeous?” Crispin’s voice seemed startlingly loud. “Not that I object to this position, but you should be aware that we now have an audience.”

I finally opened my eyes, straightening as I still straddled Crispin.

Sebastian tilted his head as he observed us, his smile just as smug as I had imagined. Elena stood a few paces behind him, eyes wide and jaw slack.

I shot off of Crispin so abruptly that I stumbled and nearly fell off the table. He gripped my arm, catching me before I could plummet face first onto the floor.

My cheeks were hot with embarrassment, but it was nothing compared to the relief I felt. I had done it. I had brought us home.

“I’m surprised it took you so long,” Sebastian said with a truly evil smile.

I balled my hands into fists as Crispin climbed off the table, taking a moment to readjust his trousers.

“Well, that was bloody brilliant.” He turned around, reaching for his journal. He picked up a pen and started scribbling notes haphazardly. “And here I thought I’d be helping you. What an experience.”

I stared at him, stunned by his quick recovery. “But I thought you’ve traveled before?”

He paused his scribbling to look back at me, completely ignoring Sebastian and Elena. “Of course, but with help.” He straightened and stepped toward me. “And those stars. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

I frowned, glancing at Sebastian.

“You can speak of it to no one,” he said to Crispin, a threat clear in his tone.

Crispin seemed taken aback. “Well obviously. And I did give dear Eva my word.” He turned back to his scribbling, a moment later finishing whatever he was writing with a flourish. He turned back around. “Eva, this is amazing. You and I together, we could really figure it out. Not that I don’t enjoy the city, but my magic isn’t half what it was back home.”

“I mostly just want to find my mother,” I muttered.

“Yes, yes.” Seeming to remember something he had forgotten, he turned back to his notes. “All in due time. I imagine locating your mother will be more simple than returning to my homeland.”

I wasn’t so sure about that, considering the elven realm would remain in one place while my mother was on the run, but I didn’t speak my thoughts out loud. Mostly, I was still just trying to wrap my mind around what I had accomplished. And I was trying to remember just exactly how I had done it.

“I have much to think on today,” Crispin continued, not noticing my hesitation. “But I’m sure I can come up with more for tomorrow. Would you be willing to return?” He looked back and forth between me and Sebastian.

Elena had recovered enough to watch me expectantly.

“Sure, I guess.” I looked at Sebastian.

He nodded slightly, that infuriating smile still on his face.

Elena beamed at me. “I’ll show you both out.”

Sebastian turned with her, but Crispin caught my arm before I could follow them.

He lowered his voice, leaning close to my cheek. “You knew what would happen. That’s why you kissed me. Has this been happening for long?”

My blush resumed. At this point, my cheeks may as well remain permanently red. “No, not very long.”

“But just with the three you mentioned?” His blue eyes flicked toward Sebastian waiting by the door with Elena.

“Yep,” I said through gritted teeth. “Just the three I mentioned… And now you.”

If the statement made him at all uncomfortable, he didn’t show it. “Fascinating.” He was already looking back toward his notes. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I watched him turn back toward his work table, the surface now in total disarray from our landing, then I walked toward Sebastian and Elena, shaking my head. The theory of me reacting to people from other worlds could have still applied, if not for Gabriel. Me reacting to strong magic was still a possibility, but now I wasn’t even sure if that was true. I hadn’t reacted to Crispin at first. Not until we kissed. Not until I had wanted it. Like my body had chosen him.

I lowered my gaze as Elena held the door open for us.

The only real conclusion I could come up with was that I was reacting to sexual attraction. Getting hot and heavy brought my magic to the surface, and when the other person had enough magic to meet mine, the stars came out. But it had never happened before. Not until Mistral.

As we walked silently through the stone halls of the palace, I thought about what it all could potentially mean. I had never wanted more power, but if it meant finding my mother and ending the deadly game surrounding her…

I would do whatever it took.

We left Elena with another promise to return tomorrow. I was somehow not surprised that Sebastian chose to escort me on the twenty minute walk to my apartment. The silence stretched between us as we left Greengate Park behind, until I couldn’t take it anymore and I grabbed Sebastian’s collar, hauling him into the nearest alleyway.

I pointed a finger in his face. “You knew. You knew exactly what was going to happen, and what I would have to do to get myself out of there.”

“I suspected. Knowing is far different.”

His blasé tone made me clench my jaw. “You are such an asshole.”

His brow twitched. “I’m not sure why you’re angry. I’m helping you more than anyone else.”

He kept saying that, but I wasn’t sure that word meant what he thought it meant. “As we’ve already established, you’re helping yourself. And you better not go back on what you said. When I find my mom, we’re not turning her in. We’ll use her to find whoever created the bounty.” It was actually starting to feel like a reality that I would find my mother. Finally. After all this time. But part of me wondered if I might be dooming her in doing so.

Sebastian tilted his head. “Will we?”

I inhaled sharply, but he laughed before I could say anything else. Once he had control of himself, he gave me a humoring smile. “As I’ve told you, the payment of my debt is in the acquisition of the object. I don’t care how you get it. And I don’t care what happens to your mother.”

And neither should I , the words cut through my thoughts. I knew I shouldn’t care, but I did. “Okay, we will figure out how to get the… object. Tomorrow. For now, I have other places to be.”

He leaned back against the brick wall behind him and crossed his arms. “Like the Bogs?”

“Yeah, so what?”

He pushed away from the wall, stepping close.

“What are you doing?” I started to pull back, but he grabbed my waist, pulling me forcefully against him.

Before I could react, his lips met mine. He kissed me deeply enough that his dark magic seemed to touch every part of me. And without thinking, I was kissing him too, my arms limp with latent indecision at my sides. I started to see stars again, and I found myself lifting my arms, pressing against him, hungry for more. My body throbbed with need, making me wish we weren’t in a public place, though I was lucky we were.

He broke the kiss, leaving me panting. “You can do as you wish with Mistral,” he murmured. “But remember, your contract is with me.” He pulled me close again, his lips grazing mine, his dark magic tugging at my core. “And remember,” he said with his mouth near mine. “You are granting him power too.”

“Is that what you want then?” I asked breathlessly. “Power?”

“Of course.” Still holding me close, he trailed a kiss across my neck, making my body tight with arousal. “But at least I’m upfront about it.” He disappeared in a flash of black, leaving me to regain my balance and my composure in the secluded alleyway.

I inhaled sharply, then let it out, my skin still tingling from his touch. It simply was not fair how I reacted to him. Next time he tried to kiss me…

My thoughts trailed off. What made me think there would be a next time? I knew he was toying with me, but the offer was still there. And as infuriating as it was, part of me wanted to take it.

But that part was an idiot, and she needed to shut up.

Shaking my head, I tugged my shirt straight and marched back out to the street. I would go home to grab a few things, then I would catch a cab to the Bogs. After what happened with Crispin, I knew I had to explore things further. I had two goblins who I was pretty sure were willing to try, and neither of them would try to steal my soul.

I slid a hand into my pocket to make sure I still had my apartment key, but came out with a crumpled piece of paper. I unfolded it to find an address and a time, 10 AM. The handwriting was the same as the previous note.

I lowered it, looking around the street as people walked to and fro, not paying me any mind. I hadn’t seen Lucas this time, so I knew it wasn’t from him. And I doubted it was Sebastian or one of the elves. So who?

I didn’t know the exact address, but I recognized the street. Given the location, it was probably a restaurant, or at least a relatively safe public place.

I double checked the time again, then shoved the note back into my pocket. I had until tomorrow morning to decide if I would go, but deep down I knew my curiosity would get the better of me.

It usually did.