Page 54 of Bradi

Someone ought to, she thought to herself.

He tapped the side of her temple lightly and smiled. “I can hear you.”

Great. Gorgeous, psycho, and a mind reader.

“I like you, Healer, and I am not prone to liking anyone.”

“Like me enough to let me go?”

“I wish I could, but you see, I need to eliminate Raiden Janelle’s line, and the quickest way to do that is to keep you until Bradiainn comes, kill him, and then I am afraid that I will have to kill you as well.”

“No!” someone shouted.

Stegian turned and then looked back at her. “It appears that you have a rather brave admirer.”

“You promised that I could have her!”

“Peter?” Marisa asked.

Peter moved toward them and seemed to drink her in. It was unnerving and very un-Peter like.

“What did you do to him?”

Stegian laughed and shrugged. “When he first landed near my home, I greeted him as an honored guest. When news reached me he was being held by your people, I sent a retrieval party for him. He’s been my guest ever since. I helped him free himself of his inhibitions. Meaning, that if he feels the urge to fuck you like a dog, he will,” Stegian said.

Marisa tensed at his words and looked at Peter.

“I can stop him, Healer. I control him now. All you have to do is agree to help me and I will not allow him to harm you.”

“Pfft, you said you were going to kill me. Geesh, remember your threats before you go making promises.”

Stegian lowered his mouth to hers and she pulled her lips in, not wanting to kiss him. He didn’t seem to care. Squeezing her cheeks hard, he puckered her lips. His cool mouth pressed down on hers. His tongue flickered into her mouth and she considered biting it. He tightened his hold on her cheeks and she knew that he was scanning her thoughts.

How a man who seemed as though he could have it all had turned so violent was beyond her. It was clear by his actions toward the Shamenians that he could not be redeemed. It seemed a shame, because her gifts had always given her the ability to sense others like her, healers, and she sensed that in him. He had the gift to restore life, but instead had decided to take it—as often as he could, it seemed.

Stegian dropped his hand from her face and backed away. He wiped his mouth and let his finger linger over his lip. “Your powers are strong to be able to persuade me so easily.”

“Persuade you? I didn’t ask you to kiss me.” She wanted to smack his face, but her bound hands prevented that. The blood had long since drained from them; her hands were now numb.

Peter moved closer and looked as though he intended to touch her. Stegian’s hand shot out and he grabbed Peter by the throat. “Do not touch her.”

“She’s mine.”

“No, she is not.”

“You said you wanted the baby dead and I could have her!” Peter spat.

Stegian backhanded him, sending him hurtling into the wall. Marisa closed her eyes tight, not wanting to see what Stegian would do to her now.

“I regret,” he seemed to choke on his words, as if he’d never spoken even semi kindly to a soul in his life, “having to do this, Healer, but the child cannot be allowed to survive.”

Marisa bit back a cry and just stared at him.

“Hag.”

There was a bright light and an old woman appeared before them. “Yes, Master?” Her eyes appeared to be covered with a white film, yet they fixed on Marisa. “Oh, you have brought the child closer for me to drain with more ease.”

“Drain?” Marisa asked. “More ease? What have you done to my baby?”

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