He jerks back slightly, confusion clear in his eyes as he studies me. “I do not understand all that you have said, and yet, you speak Bunafian.”
Lifting my hands between us, I place my palms against his chest. “Please, take me home,” I whisper. “I’ll do whatever you want me to do, just take me home.”
ELIAS
Sybilla’s eyes well with unshed tears as I watch her. It hits me in a part of my chest that I don’t recognize. There’s a squeezing sensation and I attempt to blink the feeling away, but it’s there, and as her lips tremble, it grows more uncomfortable for me, almost painful.
Releasing her, I take a step back, never breaking contact with her light-gold eyes. The dress makes them more pronounced, as it does with the gold in her hair as well. She wears my colors from head to toe, and I can’t deny that they look fantastic on her.
“This place you have mentioned, Portland, is it?” I ask.
She nods, breathing shallow quick breaths, no doubt partially because her gown is at least a few sizes too tight around her bodice. Her endowments are struggling to stay contained in the fabric of the dress and I can’t deny that it’s a sight I will not forget easily, if ever.
“Yes, why are you acting like you don’t know where it is. This game is getting really creepy. Use me for whatever you’re going to use me for, then please, please, send me home,” she begs.
Ignoring her, I turn around and walk over to the map shelf. Tugging out my world maps, I take them over to my desk and search the index for the city that she’s insistent she wishes me to deposit her back to.
“I see no city or village with that name,” I say, lifting my gaze to her.
She’s still plastered against the bookcase, but like a scared little foal, she slowly teeters toward me. “You are free to look, then show me. But, milady, I have traveled far and wide and I have never heard of such a place.”
She slides beside me and I can’t suppress my grunt at her scent as it wafts through my nostrils. Eucalyptus and vanilla, it’s incredibly enticing. She points a finger along the index, then turns her head and lifts her wide eyes up to me.
“What the hell is this? Where is the real map?”
My lips press together, and I shake my head once. “This is the world’s map as it currently exists, milady. I’m not quite sure what you think that it should read, but this is no jest, this is the map of the world,” I explain.
She takes a step back, then turns toward the window and I watch as she runs toward the draperies. Normally they would be open, but it’s rather chilly today, so I’ve kept them closed to ward off the cold.
Sybilla wraps her fingers in the velvet material and wrenches them open. I hear her gasp, then she turns around, her eyes wide with what I can only describe as terror.
“Sybilla?” I ask.
She lifts her hand to her parted lips and gasps again right before her eyes roll in the back of her head and her knees buckle. In two wide strides, I make it to her before her body crashes to the floor and I lift her in the air, sliding one arm beneath her back, the other beneath her knees.
Carrying her out of my chancery, I pass Rowan and Henry, who I can feel watching me. Ignoring them, I make my way to my chambers. Slamming my door, I take Sybilla to the bed and gently lower her onto the mattress and pillow before I walk back to the door and lock it.
Then, with little delay, I roll her to the side and unhook the back of her dress until I find her ribbons. Unlacing her, I tug on the thick ribbon to give her room to breathe, but leaving her gown on, just unlaced in the back.
Walking over to the fireplace, unable to stay still, I start a fire to warm her bones. Pacing, I wait for her to awaken. It seems as though hours have gone by, and I am debating on finding a healer, when she finally begins to stir.
Striding toward her, I sit down on the side of the bed, next to her hip. Reaching out, I cup her cheek with my palm.
“You are well, Sybilla?” I ask, trying to keep my voice low.
Her golden eyes look up at me, her gaze is soft as she licks her lips. Her voice is soft, almost timid sounding.
“Where am I?” she whimpers.
My heart, it does that clenching painful sensation again as I search her watery eyes. “You’re in the country of Bunafi, sweeting.”
“What the fuck is Bunafi? Why does the snow outside glitter? What were those giant bird things? Why are the leaves of the trees blue? Did you dye them?” she hisses.
Frowning, I slide my thumb across her plump lip. “What has happened to you, Sybilla? Where are you truly from? What are you?”
She pushes up on her elbows, her face only inches from my own. “My name is Sybilla Collins and I’m from Portland, Oregon in the United States of America. I don’t know what you are, where I am, or what the hell is happening here.” She gulps, her watery eyes meeting mine before she whispers, “I’m terrified.”
My heart shatters at her words. She means them. She believes she is from this mythical land that she speaks of, and I have no doubt deep in my bones that she is indeed terrified.
“Never mind, sweeting. There is no reason for you to fret. You are safe here within these castle walls. Aleida has blocked your magic, but she’s also given an enchantment to keep you safe from outside harm. Naught shall hurt you here, I swear that on my sword, on my life, on my crown,” I vow.
Her hand wraps around my wrist and I feel a jolt fill my body, an energy that I have never felt before in my life. “I don’t know half of what you just said to me. Nobody has swords unless they’re just for display on their walls.
“I’ve never met a witch and I don’t believe in witchcraft, but I can see in your eyes that you promise me no harm and you mean it. I’m probably a huge idiot for believing you right now, but I have no other choice. I must trust you, Elias.”
My name on her tongue sends a surge throughout my body, straight to my shaft. Leaning forward, I’m unable to restrain myself as my lips brush against hers in a chaste kiss.
She doesn’t push me away or scream and yell, and I feel like the victor of a battle when I lift my head and she’s staring up at me, her plump lips parted and her eyes wide.
“Trust me, sweeting. No harm will come to you under my protection.”
Chapter Four
SYBILLA
Elias is so close to me, so damn close that I stupidly wish he would kiss me, again. How crazy is that? This is some serious Stockholm syndrome shit happening. He jerks his chin, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“How did you know my name?” he demands.
Gulping, I blink. “I heard your guys say it,” I admit.
He sits up and back, the spell broken as he looks at me under a scrutiny that I’ve never witnessed before. Then he stands and I watch him walk over to the window.
I wonder if he’s looking at the dozens of gigantic ostrich type birds that I saw running around. I’ve never seen anything like them before in my life.
They aren’t tropical birds either, I don’t know what they are, but I’ve never seen anything like them. They look similar to an emu or ostrich, but they aren’t. Their faces kind of look like a duck, but with a sharper beak.