6
Chapter 6
Mia
T he guards lead me into a heavily warded chamber, magic tingling against my skin like static electricity. My steps falter when I see Soren through the clear barrier – I can sense the magical wall, though I can’t see it. He looks pale, drained. Restraints circle his wrists, and my heart clenches at the sight.
“Soren.” His name escapes my lips before I can stop it.
His head snaps up, eyes locking with mine. Even through the barrier, I feel the intensity of his gaze. The connection between us flares to life, confirming what I’ve been sensing. Whatever this thing is between us, it’s not my imagination.
“Mia.” His voice is rough, strained. “Are you alright?”
Morgan shifts beside me, his presence a dark reminder of our audience. Two other guards flank Soren, their expressions hard and unforgiving. Lysandra brushes my arm softly, a gentle reminder that she’s wiith us.
“I’m fine.” I press my hand against the barrier. “But you’re not. What have they done to you?”
“Standard containment procedures,” Morgan cuts in. “For everyone’s safety.”
I whirl on him. “He’s not a threat. He saved me!”
“Mia.” Soren’s voice draws me back. “It’s okay.”
But it’s not okay. The silver is burning him – I can see it in the way he holds himself, in the tension around his eyes. He’s in pain, and they’re doing this to him because of me.
“Tell them,” I plead. “Tell them everything about Lucien, about what he’s doing—”
“No discussion of the investigation,” Morgan interrupts sharply.
“Morgan Shadowmaster,” Lysandra’s voice is firm. “Let the girl be.”
Soren leans forward despite the guards tensing. “What matters is that you’re safe.”
The barrier between us feels like miles of ice. I want to touch him, to heal the burns, to make everyone understand. But all I can do is stand here, watching him suffer – because of me.
“I’m going to fix this,” I say earnestly. “I won’t let them do this to you, Soren. You don’t deserve this. Any of it.”
“Mia,” his smile is gentle, “what happens will happen. I knew the risks going in.”
And yet he still saved me. I fight down a lump in my throat.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, taking a step closer to the barrier, drawn by an invisible pull. My heart pounds against my ribs as Soren mirrors my movement, chains clinking as he rises. The guards tense, but he ignores them, focused entirely on me.
“Stay back,” Morgan warns, but his voice feels distant, unimportant.
I press my palm against the invisible surface. It hums beneath my touch, magic rippling like water. Soren reaches out, silver-burned wrists straining against his restraints, until his hand aligns with mine on the other side.
The barrier flickers.
“Impossible,” Lysandra whispers.
For a heartbeat, the magical wall between us thins like morning mist. Our fingers touch, then intertwine, and electric warmth shoots up my arm. His skin is cool against mine, but the connection burns bright and fierce.
“Step away from the barrier immediately!” Morgan’s voice cracks like thunder.
I grip Soren’s hand tighter, defiant. The guards move forward, but I stay locked in place, savoring this one precious moment of contact.
The barrier thins further under our touch, becoming gossamer-thin where our hands meet. My breath catches as Soren’s eyes lock with mine, intense and hungry.
“Mia.” My name is barely audible on his lips, but it shoots through me like lightning.
He tugs gently, and I find myself stepping forward, the magical barrier parting like silk around our joined hands. Morgan shouts something, but it’s distant, meaningless. All I can focus on is Soren pulling me closer, his other hand reaching up to cup my face.
Our lips meet, and the world explodes into light. His kiss is desperate, consuming, pouring unspoken words and repressed feelings into this one stolen moment. I clutch at his shirt, pressing closer as power surges between us – my magic intertwining with his vampire strength in a dazzling display.
Heaven. This is what heaven feels like…
The wards around us fluctuate wildly, magical barriers flickering like strobe lights. I feel the push-pull of competing magics, the containment spells fighting against whatever this is between us. Soren’s kiss deepens, and another wave of combined power rolls out from where we touch, making the air crackle with energy.
The guards’ shouts grow more urgent. Lysandra gasps. But none of it matters – not when Soren’s lips are on mine, not when every cell in my body is singing with this impossible connection.
“Mia Blackwood,” Morgan snarls. “Release him now or—”
“Enough.” Lysandra’s voice carries a note of wonder. “Let them be.”
“But you heard the High Priestess. No physical contact!”
“Hush!” she says.
“Are you serious, woman? This magic is forbidden!” The world shatters at Morgan’s sharp command: “Restrain them! Now!”
Guards rush forward, their boots thundering against the stone floor. Strong hands grab my arms, yanking me back. I struggle against their grip, frantic to maintain contact with Soren.
“Wait!” Lysandra’s voice rings out. “You’re making a mistake. Look at the magical resonance—”
But Morgan cuts her off. “These are the High Priestess’s orders. No touching!”
“No! Leave me alone!” I fight harder as they drag me away from Soren. His fingers clutch mine, refusing to let go even as the guards pull at him.
“Stop this!” Lysandra moves between us and Morgan. “Can’t you see? This isn’t dark magic. This is something else entirely—”
“Stand aside, Lysandra,” Morgan barks. “Or I’ll have you removed as well.”
She hisses through her teeth but steps away. He’s not her superior, but there’s something in the tone of his voice that makes it clear this could get ugly.
More guards pour in. They wrench Soren’s hands from mine, breaking our connection. The loss leaves me cold and empty. Our fingers brush one last time – a fleeting touch that sends sparks of electricity through my skin – before they pull us completely apart.
The magical barrier snaps back into place between us, solid and impenetrable once more.
One of the guards shoves Soren to his knees, yanking his arms behind him cruelly.
“Don’t you dare!” I snarl at him. “Don’t you dare do that to him!”
Soren’s mouth twitches into a smile. “It was worth it,” he tells me, meeting my eyes.
I strain against the guards’ grip, my heart racing. Even with the barrier back between us, I can feel Soren’s presence like a touch against my skin.
“Remove her,” Morgan says to a guard, who starts to draw me away. I struggle at once.
“Leave her,” Lysandra snaps. The guard looks from one to the other. Lysandra narrows her eyes on Morgan. Something crackles in the air around her, and he shifts uncomfortably. “I’ve bested you before, Shadowmaster. Don’t make me embarrass you.”
“Fine.” He turns and scowls at me. “But don’t try that again.”
I focus back to Soren, who is standing now. That warmth floods me again. It’s like being held.
“Are you really alright?” Soren asks, his eyes intense.
I nod. “I’m fine. Just tired. How are they treating you?”
“As you’d expect.” His gaze holds mine. “I’m glad you’re alright. I’ve been worried.”
“ You’ve been worried?” I give a bitter laugh. “They have you locked up and bound, and you’re worried about me?”
“What you’ve been through…” He shakes his head. “Mia, nobody should have to endure that.”
“You’re right,” Morgan interrupts. “And it was all your fault, you bastard.”
I spin my head to face him. “I already told you that—”
“Mia, it’s okay,” Soren stops me. “It’s natural for them to suspect me. And he’s right. I was there. I should have done something sooner. Should never have let it happen in the first place. You and dozens of others suffered for months because I did nothing.”
I stare at him for a moment. “You had no choice.”
“There’s always a choice. I’m just glad that, finally, I made the right one. And I hope that one day you’ll be able to forgive me.” His smile is sad.
“Forgive you?” My eyes are wide. It hadn’t even occurred to me that we’d have this conversation. “Why? You helped me.”
“Mia. For twelve months, I was your captor.” He pulls in a breath. “I watched you live through unspeakable treatment. Even if you can forgive me, I can’t. I deserve whatever comes my way. I’m just relieved you’re okay.”
The sensation of warmth I’d felt is now tinged with sadness. The feeling makes my throat clog. His sorrow feels like my own.
“I don’t want you to talk that way!” I shake my head. “You don’t deserve anything of the sort. And I promise you that I’m going to fix this!”
His smile is gentle. Just the way I remember his touch was the night before we left.
“I want you to go home and be with your family. Go back to your life.”
“I’ll go back to my life when this is done, dammit!” I half growl the words.
Soren…
I say the word in my mind and his expression flickers.
Soren, I’m going to get you out of here.
I know he can hear me because his throat works, and the sensation in my head shifts and grows stronger.
He frowns. “Mia, you don’t need to—”
“That’s enough small talk,” Morgan steps between us, blocking my view of Soren. “This visit is over.”
I feel Soren’s frustration pulse through our bond, matching my own.
“Just one more minute,” I plead, trying to peer around Morgan’s imposing figure.
“No.” Morgan’s voice is steel. “Guards, escort Miss Blackwood out.” With a dark look at me, he heads for the door and stalks away.
“Soren!” I say, my voice laced with desperation. “Don’t give up, okay? Just don’t!”
“Goodbye, Mia,” he says softly, then turns as the guards pull him toward the door. The connection I’d felt vanishes sharply, as if it’s been cut.
Dammit! I won’t let this happen. I won’t!
I let the guards lead me away, but my mind is already racing with plans. Soren’s presence lingers in my thoughts, along with the memory of that strange connection I’d felt.
“Interesting,” Gran murmurs as we walk down the corridor. Her keen eyes study my face. “Very interesting indeed.”
“What is?” I turn to her, grateful for any insight she might have.
“The way the barrier responded to your touch.” Lysandra falls into step beside us, her long silvery skirt swishing against the stone floor. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
“Neither have I,” Gran agrees. “And I’ve seen a great many things in my time.”
I clench my fists. “Then help me. Please. You both saw what happened in there. You know this isn’t right.”
“Morgan’s hiding something,” Lysandra says quietly. “His reaction was… excessive, even for him.”
“I don’t care what Morgan’s up to.” My voice comes out stronger than I expect. “I won’t let Soren sacrifice himself for me. He doesn’t deserve this.”
Gran places a gentle hand on my arm. “No, dear one, he doesn’t. And perhaps there’s more to this situation than any of us realized.”
I meet her knowing gaze. For the first time since my rescue, I see real understanding in her eyes. Not pity, not concern about my mental state – but genuine comprehension of what Soren means to me.
“I’m getting him out,” I say firmly. “With or without the Conclave’s help.”
Lysandra exchanges a look with Gran. “This is probably something you shouldn’t be saying in front of me.”
Gran laughs lightly. “Oh, Lysandra! It’s not like the girl is planning a jailbreak!”
They both chuckle. I say nothing. Because deep down inside, in that place where his voice keeps touching me, I know that’s what I’ll do if I have to.