Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 1)

Nothing in Joss’s demeanor betrayed his feelings. He only lowered his head and lifted his iron-hard eyes to hers. Their gazes wrestled. The memory of the weight of his body as it had pressed against hers was so fresh in her mind she could still feel it. The flare of his eyes told her he knew where her mind was dwelling, but instead of acknowledging her feelings, he turned away and left her cold.

Hot, cold. Pull, push. The fight was exhausting.

She closed the door behind her and pressed her back against it, trying to digest the information Cain had shared. Maya was right. The attraction between Joss and herself was undeniable. She could never place Joss in a position of choosing between her and his mission.

As the truth dawned on her, she shuddered in the midday heat. The boat had slowed down. When it came to a halt and the noise of the engines died, Cain’s voice drifted through the open window of the lounge.

“I believe you, Joss, and what you say about her blood, but I sense something profound. When it surfaces, it will be powerful. You have to tell me now if you can remain objective enough to complete your mission. Can you eliminate her if you have to?”

“I’ll do what’s right,” Joss said.

She backed away from the door just as Maya appeared.

“I have to take you to your cabin. The boat has stopped.”

“That won’t be necessary,” a voice said behind them.

Clelia turned. Joss stood in the door of the lounge.

“I’ll take her,” he said, sounding cold and hot and everything confusing in between.

“Cain won’t like it,” Maya said, “but who am I to challenge what you’ve marked as yours?”

“I haven’t marked anything,” Joss gritted out.

Maya snorted. “Like hell. But if it makes you happy, just go on believing that.” She turned on her heel and left.

“Come,” Joss said with a tilt of his head.

Taking Clelia’s arm, he led her below deck, almost shoving her into the cabin before slamming the door behind them.

“Do you like Bono?” he asked. “He’s hard to resist. Pilot. Good looks. Women like those sorts of things. Is he what you’re looking for?”

Taken aback, she blinked.

“I saw the way he looked at you,” he continued, “and I saw the way you smiled at him.”

“How did I smile at him?”

“Like you shouldn’t,” he bit out. “A man might get the wrong idea. Men are stupid that way.”

“We didn’t look at each other in any way.”

He grabbed her to him and cupped her ass. “I didn’t like it, how he looked at you.”

“How did he look at me? Like a man who’d kill me?”

He released her so abruptly she almost stumbled.

“Or is that your job?”

He stared at her with narrowed eyes, looking like he wanted to say more, but then he left and slammed the door.

She stared at the flimsy wood, shaking with a mixture of fear, anger, and confusion. Joss found himself in a hell of a predicament. She wasn’t insensitive to his situation. From his point of view, having sex muddled everything. Like Cain had said, he wanted to do right by her, but he also wanted to do what was right for the team.

The more she thought about it, the more she knew there was only one solution.

She had to save herself.

She had to escape.Chapter 16The cabin was hot when Clelia woke up from her nap. It had been baking in the sun all afternoon. The orange glow shining through the tiny window told her the sun was already low. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, and then jerked when she noticed Maya leaning against the wall in the corner.

“What the hell?” Clelia exclaimed.

“I didn’t want to wake you.” Maya pushed off the wall. “You missed dinner.”

Clelia looked around for a clock. “What time is it?” How long had she napped?

“Past eight. I saved you a plate. It’s confit de canard, Bono’s favorite.”

She felt sticky and her T-shirt stuck to her skin. A shower would be welcome. “I’m not hungry, but thanks.”

“The effect of the tranquilizer should’ve worn off by now. If you still don’t have an appetite, I may have to call a doctor to have a look at you. You should also know Joss threatened to spoon-feed you after forcing an appetite enhancer down your throat.”

Just thinking of food made her feel sick. It had more to do with her emotional state than a biological side effect, but if she was going to escape, she needed her strength.

“I’ll lead the way,” Maya said with a smirk, moving toward the door.

She followed Maya to the lounge where a place for one was set at the table. Maya went to the kitchen and returned with a plate of food she put in front of Clelia.

“Feel free to grab anything from the kitchen anytime you want,” Maya said. “I’ve got admin work to do, reports and shit. Can I leave you to it or do you prefer company?”