Page 42 of Silverproof Damsel

The fireplace was merely a constant flow of magic, keeping the energy charged. Stepping onto the crystal stairs leading below, Igripped the railing tightly as it sent a whisper of magic searching through my mind, seeking to identify my intent within the chamber.

Rhys hadn’t merely refurbished the space. He’d built a gilded cage I couldn’t escape.

Once I’d reached the bottom of the staircase, I rubbed feeling into my chilled biceps while stewing over the day’s events. Strolling toward the waterfall, I dipped my fingers into the chilled depths.

Rainbow prisms danced over my forearm until I withdrew my hand. The moment I did, candles erupted with dancing flames burning the wicks. It was as if the room was a living, breathing thing.

Goosebumps spread from my head to my toes, realizing what Rhys had been doing while we’d been apart. While I hadn’t been able to repair my dilapidated shack, he’d built a magical prison. One that would ensure I never saw the light of day again, not unless he allowed it.

Tears slowly trickled free as the realization of how foolish I’d been. I’d fallen right into a trap. Rhys may have claimed me, but he’d intended to keep me as his prisoner. Either willingly or unwillingly, he’d never intended to allow me to escape him.

I’d never even thought him capable of imprisoning me. I’d been blind to everything in my need to prevent our child from being harmed or taken from us. The entire time, Rhys had probably been laughing at my naivete. I’d have been if I were him.

Rhys was much more calculated and cunning than I’d given him credit for being. Like a lamb to the slaughter, I’d allowed the wolf to lead me to his dinner table.

The sound of the door unlocking forced my focus to shift toward the entrance. Peering up the staircase, I studied Rhys,who strode straight for me. My heartbeat stalled, then started up again at an alarming speed.

I stepped back, then spun around as I searched for somewhere to run. As if I’d even be able to escape from him? It wasn’t feasible. It sure wasn’t something I could manage while trapped in a cage he had built for me.

“I would think twice about running from me, Silversmith. You’ll only make this more stimulating for me if you attempt to escape me.” Spinning around to face him, I felt my stomach swirling like a cyclone, threatening to send me spiraling into a full-fledged panic attack.

“I didn’t hurt Nyota,” I whispered through trembling lips.

My entire body trembled violently as he stopped right before where I stood. Rhys’ hand lifted, causing me to physically shrink away from him. Closing my eyes, I waited for him to grab me and shove me against the nearest hard surface he could find.

Time passed without a sound, forcing me to open my eyes and stare at where he’d stood. Only Rhys wasn’t there anymore. Turning, I watched as he paused in front of an island. I’d assumed it was part of a kitchen. Only, it wasn’t the kitchen.

A sleek, well stocked bar sat in the corner of the room. Rhys strolled behind it, then produced a bottle of whisky and two crystal goblets. Turning back towards where I watched, he twisted the lid from the bottle with a muscle twitching in his sharp, chiseled jaw. He poured two fingers of expensive scotch into both glasses.

“Have a fucking drink.” His voice was filled with strain and exhaustion, an exhaustion I felt in the very marrow of my bones.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I whispered, remaining rooted to the spot.

Rhys’ glittering blue stare slid to my abdomen, then rose to my face. The corner of his mouth lifted as a cocky smirk transformed his handsome face. Slowly, he nodded as he removed his suitjacket and then the monogrammed cufflinks. As he rolled the sleeves of his dress shirt up, my eyes feasted ravenously on the ink being exposed.

“Have a seat,” he ordered huskily, his attention never leaving my face. Waiting for me to be his obedient captive, he lifted the whisky to his lips, sipping from the cup. “You’ve had a trying day. I promised Talia I wouldn’t overtax you or cause unneeded stress. So, we can either have this conversation here or in bed. I’ll leave that decision up to you.”

His threat issued anger pulsing through my abdomen, then exited through my lips. “I’m not sleeping in your bed.” If he’d heard me, Rhys chose to ignore me. Staring at the chair, I felt dread rolling up from my toes to flood my brain.

Rhys didn’t move from where he stood, resting his elbows on the bar. I wasn’t sure how he’d respond to me disobeying him, but it wasn’t this indifferent attitude. After a few moments of awkward silence, I started forward.

Without a word, I sat down on the bar stool. Rhys’ smirk grew as he turned, opening a small fridge, then removed a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice. Turning back to face me, he twisted the top, then poured it into a glass.

The scent of freshly squeezed oranges flowed to my nose, making my stomach rumble. I regretted not listening to Winchester when she’d told me to eat this morning. It was hard to believe that it had been this morning. It felt as if it had happened days ago.

“How did you bypass the Silversmith curse?” Rhys’ eyes studied the confusion skewing over my face. “When I intervened inside your home, the curse only lasted two hours. Tonight, it never ignited.” Leaning his elbows back on the counter, he leaned against the bar. “I want to know how you did it.”

“I didn’t use magic.”

Rhys’ smile turned wolfish as he steepled his fingers in front of his mouth. It drew my eyes to his lips. I’d fantasized about them against my flesh more than I’d ever willingly confess to another living soul. His eyes sparkled with lust, causing my stomach to twist while a flutter began between my thighs.

“As far as I am aware, you were the only Silversmith inside my house tonight. Nyota was attacked with silver. Unless one of your siblings was inside my home, then vanished the moment they attempted to murder my sister.” He let his words hang in the air between us like a carrot in front of a rabbit.

A scoff of disbelief escaped before I could prevent it. “You cannot think I’d willingly harm Nyota, Rhys.” All the pretense of politeness vanished from his face as his dark head tilted to the side. A heated look pinched his handsome features, twisting them into a vicious mask of rage. “I care about her. She’s saved my life more times than I can count on both hands. Why would I hurt her?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?” Rising from his lax position, he placed his palm flat on the bar. “Why did you seek me out in your dream? You asked me to protect you. You knew I’d do so without hesitation. I brought you here, to my home. The one place where my family should feel safe and protected—”

“Fuck you, Van Helsing!” I snarled, shoving up from the bar stool. I slapped my hands onto the cool marble surface, glaring at him. “I didn’t hurt her. I’d never hurt Nyota. I didn’t use my magic. The curse isn’t activated because I didn’t use it. I didn’t have a meticulous or sinister plan to come into your home and harm your family. I’d never harm anyone I cared about merely to hurt you!”

---