Wants of the Heart

Chapter 18

Over the next few weeks, I explore every nook and cranny of the villa. While I find plenty of things that would interest me and occupy my time in other circumstances, nothing that could aid my escape is found.

After my last fight with Draco, I discover that all doors and windows will now open to me. Being able to go outside and breathe fresh air is most likely the only reason I have been able to keep any grip on my sanity. The gardens that surround the French home are ostentatious and larger than my mind could have ever imagined. It's when I come to the edges of the gardens that I find myself unable to move further. Despite the practice of wandless magic that I endured last summer, no spell I cast at the invisible barriers provides me any leeway.

When not plotting my eventual departure from the gilded cage I find myself in, my time is spent continuing my flying lessons with Theo (not that I'm much steadier on a broom than when I began in the spring), losing to Blaise at chess, and hunting through the gardens with Luna for various creatures she tells me about.

Throughout it all, I find different ways to avoid my betrothed. Mipsy is always close by to warn me of his approach and apparate me away to a different part of the villa. I erect my own wards with the help of the bossy elf to keep him from entering my rooms. My meals are brought to me when I am unable to sneak past Draco to eat in the kitchens. All in all, the veela seems very frustrated by my avoidance as he stomps and broods around the house.

It's almost three weeks after my arrival (kidnapping) that he manages to corner me once more. After lunch I decided to venture my way into one of the sitting rooms on the ground floor. The room holds a grand piano that has had my fingers itching since I found it. Sending Mipsy off to have an afternoon to herself, I lose myself in the ivory keys.

"Beautiful."

My fingers stumble in their race across the keys, interrupting my song with a sour note as I startle. I swing around on the bench, turning to face the door. Draco stands with his hands in his robe pockets, legs crossed at the ankle as he leans back against the closed door.

"You scared me." They're the first words I've spoken to him in weeks, hand on my chest in an attempt to calm my racing heart.

He pushes off the door, walking across the room in quick strides. Before I can protest, he's seated beside me on the bench.

"I used to sit in on your lessons when we were kids."

Draco's gaze is focused on the piano rather than on me. His long fingers trace over the keys, playing a few notes experimentally.

"I remember." My voice is almost a whisper. While anger and hurt still burn in my chest, I can't help but be curious of where he is going with this.

"Theo would complain about how boring it was. That I should be playing with him instead, but..." He holds a low note for a moment before letting up on the key. "Even as a child, everything you did absolutely mesmerized me. I couldn't help but want to know everything about you. I have you and all of your talents of my own."

Just as my heart begins to thaw at his words, it freezes over twice as quickly. Of course, this is just another way of calling me his and his alone. My fingers suddenly itch for my wand instead of the piano keys. He lifts his head, gray eyes meeting blue.

"I know that I hurt you. I know that you think me the worst. But, Cassie, I cannot explain to you the innate desire I have to keep you safe and away from anything or anyone that might cause you harm. Thought of something happening to you physically pains me. I would lose my grip on reality if something were to happen to you." His hands twitch toward, but refrain from actually touching her. The pleading look in his eyes tightens my chest painfully.