Her eyes flew wide and her nostrils flared with rage. “I am no such thing!” Her elementals responded to her anger, manifesting in the air beside her, one a burning figure, the other a rocky presence of stone.
Will glanced at them. “Neat.” Then he seemed to dismiss them as his attention returned to her. “You know it’s the truth. I can read your emotions. Admit it, you want me as much as I want you.” He stepped closer, and a force-dome appeared around them, leaving both the elementals and Darla standing helplessly a few feet away. Shocked into disbelief, Laina gasped as his hand slid around her waist and his face drew close. He was about to kiss her.
With a shriek of fury and disgust, she pushed him back. Seeming confused, Will let go without a fight. “You’re married!” challenged Laina, scrabbling to collect her wits.
He seemed surprised. “Oh! I forgot! Where is she then? I’ve got an itch you wouldn’t believe!”
Furious, Laina gaped at him. “That’s my best friend you’re talking about!”
Will held up a hand. “Just a moment.” Once again, his eyes seemed to lose focus as he looked away to one side. “Oh, damn! A whole year, eh? No wonder I’m feeling so pent up.”
“That’s no excuse for your behavior! Take down this shield.”
He merely smiled. “Not to worry, you’re safe with me. I wouldn’t touch a woman who didn’t want me to.”
“You just did!”
“Does Selene know you’re in love with me?” he asked suddenly. “That you think about me secretly at night?”
Her hand flashed through the air, catching the side of his head and rocking his face to one side. “You disgust me!”
Will straightened up, rubbing his cheek. “Nice arm you’ve got there, but clearly you’re lying. I mean, yes, you do have an ungodly amount of rage in you, but right there behind it I can see the love. Why deny it?” He leaned forward. “Just one kiss. See if you like it.”
“I’m your sister!” she snapped. “Have you no shame?”
Will blinked, then leaned away. “Oh.” He stared into the air for a moment, then looked back at her. “Oh! Oh, I’m sorry! No wonder! Oh, that’s embarrassing. I didn’t expect that. Love can be so confusing. Generally, with two young people of the opposite sex, it indicates some romantic inclinations as well, it just never occurred to me. Siblings! Well, that settles that, doesn’t it?” he said genially. Then he winked and asked, “Or does it?”
She slapped him again.
He rubbed at the other cheek. “I guess it does. That’s too bad. I guess it’s to be expected, growing up together and all, that sort of thing is very taboo.” He glanced at Darla. “Your bodyguard looks very healthy, in a strong sort of way. Do you suppose she—”
Laina swung at him once more, this time with her fist, but he caught her wrist. “That’s enough of that. I’ll accept the other blows because you had good cause, but now I’m just asking an honest question.”
Her face was a thundercloud of anger, but Laina’s thoughts were clear. “Who are you?”
“I’m your dear brother, William,” he said smugly.
She shook her head. “No, you’re not.”
“What tipped you off?”
“When you wanted to find someone to cook for you. Idiot that he is, the real Will is an excellent cook. Who are you?”
He released her hand and offered his in a handshake. She declined to accept it. “Linus. Linus Ethelgren at your service.” He winked, then added, “I’m here to save the world!”
Chapter 42
Bereft of his senses, Will circled the infinite emptiness of his prison. He’d experienced the same thing often enough that he didn’t panic immediately this time, which might not have been for the best, for he couldn’t seem to escape. If I could just get out of my body, maybe I could see what was happening!
Every time before, he had either been dying or in a state of panic. Except the time that Janice had helped him, but he’d still felt a small amount of fear then. This time he was completely calm. But was fear really the catalyst? He tried to make himself afraid, but failed utterly.
He still couldn’t quite understand what had happened. There had been someone else, but the other had been nothing more than a disembodied voice, or perhaps a spirit trapped within the relic. In some sense, it was similar to Arrogan, except it wasn’t tied to the limnthal. How had it had the power, the strength of will, to trap him inside his own body?
Will pondered that for a while, but got nowhere, so he decided to change tactics. He focused on Tiny, imagining his friend as vividly as he could. He felt something for a while, but then it faded. Arrogan had told him that there had to be a bond, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Tiny was his closest friend. Why won’t it work?
He considered Laina for a moment but discarded her as a prospect immediately. She despised him. The only bond they shared was mutual distaste, and he didn’t feel like swimming through such negativity just to escape.
Darla! She was nearby and she would meet up with her ward soon enough. Then he could see what was going on with his body.
He tried that avenue for ten or fifteen minutes, but there was nothing. He simply didn’t know enough about the former assassin to even begin to find some sort of link between them. He considered trying Janice, but there wasn’t much point. She was locked away for the night and wouldn’t be able to see him anyway. Even if she could see him, she would only put herself in danger if she tried to leave before dawn.
In the end, there was only one option—Laina. Clearing his mind, he tried to envision her as he had seen her just a short while ago. Her face was blurry at first, until he started adding his emotions to the mix. She irritated him to no end, but deep down he was worried about her. The image grew crisp and began to gain solidity.
I’m worried about her, he told himself, but there was something more. Completely alone, he was still embarrassed by the thought. I’m not just worried, I care about her. She’s my sister, and in some strange sense, I love her.
With an almost audible ‘pop,’ the world sprang into existence, and he found himself in the middle of the street, not far from Wurthaven. Laina and the imposter were inside a force-dome, while Darla pounded helplessly on the exterior. Two very irritated elementals also stood by, though they didn’t waste their time attacking the dome.
He tried focusing on Laina, to draw him closer, but he was rebuffed when his point of perspective came up against the force effect. Unlike everything else, it felt completely solid. Remembering how Arrogan had once had him create a force-dome before they had a conversation, he could see just how effective the spell was now.