Page 46 of Within the Flames
Twelve
After their training, Macey lay down for a nap. She was exhausted, her magic drained more than she'd anticipated. If she was to be ready to fight soon, she needed to recuperate a little.
Rónàn joined her in bed, but all he did was wrap an arm around her shoulders, providing a hard but warm pillow. She snuggled against him and fell asleep almost immediately.
MACEYYYYYYYY!
The Voice was gentle, coaxing, alluring. She wanted to follow it, do whatever it wanted her to do. Please it in any way she could.
COME TO ME, LITTLE KELPIE.
She moved towards him, becoming faster the closer she got.
THAT'S RIGHT, COME TO ME.
The Voice chuckled sweetly and Macey found it to be one of the prettiest sounds she'd ever heard. She needed to be close to it, bathe in its warmth.
She ran, following the pull she felt in her heart, racing towards the beautiful Voice. She didn't know what would happen once she got there, but she knew it was all she'd ever wanted.
GIVE YOURSELF TO ME.
Yes, that's what she wanted. He was the only one she wanted. Right?
Suddenly, she stumbled and fell, images flashing through her mind. Men, four of them. It took her a moment to identify them - but then, memories rushed over her like a bucket of cold water, waking her from her trance.Hermen. Cam, Jared, Flint and Rónàn. What the waves was she doing? Why was she running towards a Voice she didn't know? Was she going mad?
DON'T THINK OF THEM. COME TO ME.
Somehow, he didn't seem as alluring anymore. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to go to him. Why was she doing it, anyway? What was awaiting her? He'd never told her why he wanted her to come.
"What do you want from me?" she called, her voice shaking a little. The warm feeling her belly had dissipated.
I WILL TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE HERE.
She had to fight to not be convinced by his beautiful Voice. It was so tempting to just give in and do what he wanted.
"No, tell me now!"
INSOLENT CHILD!
Suddenly, he sounded a lot less enticing. He was not a nice person, was he? She turned and walked back to where she'd come from, wherever that was. Everything was a little fuzzy in her mind; she was having trouble concentrating.
DON'T! COME BACK!
She didn't turn and walked away, somehow proud of herself for whatever reason.
Macey wokewith a squeak that made her embarrassed as soon as her brain switched on and registered the sound she'd made.
"Everything okay?" Rónàn asked, looking at her with a trace of concern.
"Just a bad dream," she muttered, wrapping herself around him. She needed to feel him close. The last remaining tendrils of her dream were still swirling around her mind. An ominous feeling settled within her, like something bad was about to happen.
"Want me to kiss it better?" He grinned and placed a tiny kiss on her forehead.
"I wish we had the time," she whispered, kissing him on the cheek in return. "But I don't think we can do this now. Later, once we're done with kicking the Mahoun's slimy arse."
"Slimy arse?" Rónàn laughed. "I like that. I'm going to use that expression from now on."
Macey smiled. "Go ahead, it's yours."
