Page 91 of Enchanted Hero
He relaxed his shoulders. “I can’t tell you.”
She breathed out.
“It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but we simply don’t know how our powers work.” His voice was calming, warm. “It’s an instinct, just like you have the ability to talk or walk. Despite having some of the smartest researchers on the planet, we can’t figure out what gives us our abilities. We only know our people always possess powers, some more than others.”
“You’re on the powerful side, aren’t you?” At his nod, her voice lowered. “The most powerful?”
His silence was all the affirmation she needed. Not only was she being claimed by a supernatural being, but by the strongest of them all. A thousand emotions threatened to overpower: awe, shock, desire that never diminished. Any scientist in the world would do anything to switch places with her. “Are you their president?”
He chuckled. “We don’t elect presidents.”
“A king?”
His eyes gleamed. “I’m their leader, but we’re much like a democracy. People advise me and consult on matters.”
“But when it comes down to it, you’re in charge.” Despite the proof literally blazing before her, it was almost impossible to believe. “You realize that doesn’t mean you’re in charge of me.”
He straightened, unmistakable challenge burning in his expression. “You know our secret. That means you’re my responsibility.” He edged closer, with all the power he no longer hid. “Mine.”
Never had a word sounded so possessive. “But why? Is this about power? About wanting the one thing you can’t have?” Fury rose, at him for claiming her, at herself for wanting nothing more than to accept it. Despite everything, she still loved him. But she refused to be his prisoner, locked away so she wouldn’t expose his secret. “When you say you’re going to keep me, what does that mean?”
He hesitated, as if deciding what to reveal. “You’re mine,” he repeated simply.
She fought for strength. “You can’t simply claim a person. You have no right to keep me!”
The corner of his mouth turned up, casting raw power. There was nothing – and no one – who could stop him. “I warned you what would happen if my secret was discovered.”
“But you set me up.” She pointed at his chest. “You wanted me to find out, didn’t you?”
He didn’t deny it.
“Why?” she whispered. “This is your most fiercely guarded secret, the truth you’ve kept from millions of followers, thousands of reporters and an entire government. Why would you share it with me?”
“Because I knew you would keep it safe.” His muscles flexed, then tightened. “And so I could keep you.”
“This isn’t really about the secret.” She spoke so low, it was barely audible. “This is about me, isn’t it?”
His eyes shone brightly in the glow of mystical objects. “Yes.”
Her heart thundered in her chest. One of the most powerful men in the world was claiming her, and despite it all she still loved him. Yet she couldn’t acquiesce, not now. She needed time to think, to consider her options.
Only it didn’t look like he was giving her that choice.
“You’re making it impossible for me to fight.” Now she folded her arms across her chest, standing tall to the powerful leader. “Well, I’m going to fight anyways. You can’t hold me prisoner. Anytime, I’ll simply escape… hey!”
With one liquid motion, Alexander lifted her into powerful arms. She struggled, but he held her fast. “I’m sorry, Everleigh, but escape is impossible. It’s been that way since the moment we met.”
She gasped. “I never understood why you targeted my business, especially when you took such a personal interest. But the takeover wasn’t of my company – it was of me.”
He stood tall. “I bought your company because you possessed one of our relics. Normally, I would allow the owner to leave immediately if he or she desired.”
“But you tricked me into staying.”
“I’d say my takeover bid has been successful.”
Yes, it had.Yet how could this extraordinary man, thissuperman truly want an ordinary woman like her?
Somehow, he read her doubts. “Do you still deny the connection between us?” Rare uncertainty, vulnerability even, tinted his expression. “Do you feel differently now that you’ve seen the real me?”
