Page 43 of Urban Gladiator

It was the only thing I hadn’t tried. What the hell did I have to lose at this point? If it didn’t work, I was no worse off than I was now.

But if I succeeded? I could determine where the key was located and how to escape Ian’s home.

In the richly appointed bathroom, I stripped. Who cared if Ian caught me naked? My nudity might be the distraction I needed to snatch the key and escape.

The massive smooth granite tub could fit Ian’s griffin form fully submerged. Steam rose from the water as it filled the tub, and I gingerly stepped into the soothing bath. The heat made me sigh. I grabbed the hunk of soap from the ledge. If nothing else, I could at least bathe the filth off my body.

It would be my excuse if Ian caught me casting.

But first, before I scrubbed the travels off my body, I needed to try the simple incantation. It worked for me before I had even mastered the art of lighting a candle. Taking my right hand, I drew concentric circles slowly in the water.

“One. Two. Three. Let me see. As I will it, so mote it be.”

And then I submerged my entire body under the water. Images quickly flashed in my mind. They flew by too fast for me to digest. I would have to meditate and review each one. But I saw Ian, with his manly swagger, in a great hall of sorts. An image of Rowan inserted itself into the vision. He dashed through the forest at top speed in wolf form.

Oh my goddess! He was coming for me and was near. I knew it down into the farthest reaches of my soul, even without the ability to plunge deeper into the vision.

I needed to vacate Ian’s home before he caught me. His retribution would be terrible. With the way my luck had gone here lately, he’d wind up marching me directly to what was left of the altar and begin the bloodletting ceremony himself.

Strong hands gripped me and hauled me above the water. I sucked in a breath and opened my eyes. Water poured down my body. He set me on my feet.

“Lass, marrying me will not be bad. You don’t have to kill yourself, woman.” Ian’s vibrant gaze lowered, sliding over my naked form, and glowed with lust.

“I wasn’t trying to kill myself. I was taking a bath,” I explained, keeping my hands at my sides. The dratted man could look all he wanted. I wasn’t ashamed of my body. But it was something he would never have.

“Hmm. I see.” He gently moved a lock of hair behind my ear. “You’re simply the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met, Ember. And I want you as my wife. I want to worship your beautiful body and make you cry out in ecstasy. I want to fill your belly with my offspring. Please say you’ll give it a chance?”

At least he was asking. But I also wasn’t fooled by his seductive tone. The moment I told him no, he would force my hand. “You don’t even know me.”

“I’ll learn. By the gods, lass, let me worship you. I’ll ensure you want for nothing and are protected. Let me make you happy.”

“Is that even possible? A griffin and a witch?”

He smiled, thinking I was going to cave to his entreaty. “Aye, we can mate with all the species. Our offspring will be part griffin and part witch. We could start our own dynasty, change the power dynamic of Avalon.”

“Ian, it’s not that I don’t find you attractive. But I’m not looking for a husband. I like my freedom far too much.”

“And who says you won’t be free, hmm?” His hands caressed my biceps. But his touch did nothing for me. It would be easier if it did. He was handsome and engaging, and I’d bet he was fun in the sack too.

Damn Rowan. He’d become the bane of my existence. He’d ruined me for all other men.

“Ah, the dampeners around my ankles.”

“Those are merely temporary.” Ian’s charming smile didn’t hide his ambition, only amplified it. To me, at least.

“Until when?” Did I just have to marry the guy to get the key? Because if that’s the case, I’d march him to the nearest clergyman and be done with it. It wasn’t like I had any intention of getting married to anyone else. And once I was in the human world, a marriage in Avalon wouldn’t matter one bit.

A sexy grin spread over his handsome visage. “When you love me, of course?”

I laughed at his cockiness. He acted as if it was a foregone conclusion. “It won’t happen.”

“It will. And I’ll prove it to you.” He cupped my face in his hands. He had nice, strong hands, muscular and calloused. I didn’t try to stop him as he lowered his mouth to mine. Mayhap his kiss would arouse feelings inside me. Perhaps he could help me erase the memory of Rowan.

“Take your fucking hands off my mate.” Rowan’s voice roared and echoed in the bathroom.

17

It took all night before Simon and I located the giant. But then, we’d both needed to stop and refuel. The giant’s home was a massive cavern in the side of a mountain. Ember’s scent disappeared by the lake, but we followed the giant’s scent. And when we reached his home, I could smell her. My wolf was fucking frantic, ready to rip the man to shreds for touching Ember. But Tomlin was a rather daft creature. When I questioned him, he wailed that the griffin had taken her, and now he was sad.

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