Ronan

Chapter Eight

Rosa wanted to beg. To drop to her knees and pray for his mercy. She couldn't do any more of this. Not today. Her brain ached from the strain of keeping him out. It ached even more from his intrusion.

Several things held her back from crying.

First of all, she was chained to where she stood, so dropping to her knees was impossible. Secondly, it was him. He had the power now. He was in control. Her silence was the only thing she retained. She bit her tongue to keep any sounds from coming out. He was winning—they both knew this—but she'd be damned before he got any pleasure from it.

"That's enough," The warlock said.

Her body sagged with relief, laxing into the chains.

Don't thank him.

This wasn't a kindness. He hadn't done her a favour.

"For today?"

"For today."

She could work with that.

She'd take the night to prepare herself to do it all again tomorrow.

"Then what will you do with me now?" She asked, crossing her fingers he wouldn't leave her like this. Her feet were killing from keeping her up. "Is there a cell somewhere with my name on it?"

The allies were lucky they'd never seen Triumph's cells. Often, 'guests' were locked in pockets of time until Ronan was ready to deal with them. The cells were reserved for the real threats.

Rosa had wandered down there once, decades ago. Needless to say, many sleepless nights had followed.

"You can shower."

So, he was being peaceable.

"And then you'll escort me to my cell?"

"No cells."

She tried to cover her relief. He'd gotten enough from her today already.

"Then what? Don't tell me you're giving me my own bedroom? Seriously? Well, I'll be damned. How do you know I won't leave?"

She'd run at the first chance.

"There's no way off this realm," He answered without hesitation.

"None?"

"You won't find any portal jumpers."

Damn it. He'd prepared for her coming. Worse, he knew she could be crafty. Since he knew her so well, she'd bet her life on him taking no risks. Which meant when he said there were no portal jumpers, he wasn't lying. He'd have disposed of the one she was brought here by already.

"But I could wander," She reminded him. "I know how to work your castle. Is that something you're prepared for?"

Nowhere in all of the Other World held as many secrets as this place. Did he really want to let her loose on them?

Rosa was a lot of things, nosy, for instance. Had he prepared for all that too?

"You already know too much," He returned.

"So? So what? So...it doesn't matter if I know more?"

She supposed that made a little bit of sense. He knew all the secrets of the castle already, so it wasn't like he'd have to take them from her. Besides, he had a nifty little way of taking what he wanted directly from her head now.

Bitterly, she asked, "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"How did you fly under the radar?" He asked, not answering her question.