Page 58 of Within the Flames
"No? Okay. What about the wraiths, I bet they could take me both at once. Though Camdan looks a little too sweet for that. I'm not sure he's up to the task."
She didn't reply to the apparition. This wasn't Amber, she knew that. This wasn't happening. She knew that too. It didn't stop the very real feelings inside her though.
"What about the daimon? It might be fun to have someone before you."
Macey's eyes snapped to where the apparition was circling a naked Luc. She tried not to let her gaze stray downwards but curiosity made that almost impossible. Her eyes widened. What was she even doing admiring him like that? How could she be so unfaithful to her men? The twisting in her gut wasn't easing at this suggestion from Amber though. She pushed the implications away. Now wasn't the time to deal with them and even if it was, she didn't want to. Ever.
"No? I guess that leaves the selkie first then. It's a good thing I like things wet."
Tears streaked their way down Macey's cheeks. The Voice was cruel if he wanted this to be her punishment. She knew what he wanted and it pained her to even entertain the notion.
Steeling herself, Macey met the seductive gaze of apparition Amber. It helped that she couldn't see any of her friend in that look.
She gulped loudly and begged for forgiveness for her real men.
"You can take them all, Amber. It means nothing to me."
Horror flitted across the apparition’s face as the words sunk in. The darkness shrivelled and died, collapsing in on itself.
Macey was thrown to the floor once more. Her knees really were taking a pounding, but the sting and the coolness were all she needed to know this wasn't another vision. She was back in the castle properly. As if the Mahoun's receding laugh wasn't enough.
"Macey?" Luc asked softly, his hands going around her shoulders and helping her back to her feet.
She tried not to look at him, embarrassed over what the Voice had shown her.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded, not able to find any of her words.
"You're scaring me. Why are you so pale?"
"Your knee?" she croaked.
"Daimon magic. If I'm not being attacked, I can heal myself pretty quickly. It's a useful trick. But what happened?" he repeated.
"Mind games. Nothing more than mind games."
* * *
"How long was I out?"Macey asked, brushing off her clothes.
"A few minutes, long enough for me to heal myself and for the body to disintegrate. I checked on you but you looked like you were simply sleeping. Did you have fun?"
He gave her a sympathetic wink, as if he knew that humour was a good way to deal with it all.
"Oh yes, it was hilarious," she said drily, "but I met Izban. He must be somewhere around here."
"We'll find him. Let's go."
She looked at the daimon in confusion. "Aren't we locked in here?"
"What would give you that idea?" he asked while opening the door at the other end of the chamber.
"I thought we were prisoners," she muttered. "It felt that way."
He was in front of her in a flash, lifting her head with a finger on her chin until she was forced to look into his dark eyes.
"We are not prisoners. We are invaders. We are the ones attacking and we are the ones who will succeed. We are the strong people here, not the victims, understood?"
