Page 21 of Oath of Betrayal
I smiled at the challenge in her eyes. She looked me in the eye, her expression informing me she wouldn’t stand for any strong-arm tactics, and I enjoyed every moment, knowing she wouldn’t slide from my grasp. ‘Annika, I don’t need a mistress. I need a weapon. Do you really think the royal mage would have just let you go once he learned of your existence otherwise?’ I let the meaning of my words hang in the air.
‘What did you promise him to get me?’
‘I gave him my word that I would take responsibility for you,’ I said, and she snorted a laugh.
‘Well, then you are shit out of luck, Commander.’
‘I don’t believe I am, and I think we can come to an understanding. You are a contradiction, woman. In one breath, you tell me you find me attractive; the next, you find my touch repulsive. You wound me deeply if you think I’d force my attention on an unwilling partner, but rest assured, I wouldn’t go through this much trouble just to get you in my bed. Though, if you wanted to join me, I could be persuaded.’
Gods, that came out wrong.I almost winced. I came here to acquire a weapon and had found a woman who loved the stars and who had a smile that could brighten the night.
That she would think I’d force her into my bed …Her words wounded my ego, and I had lashed out without thinking. I didn’t know what angered me more: the fact she didn’t want me, or the fact she thought so little of me.
‘I don’t find you repulsive, but I don’t like to be coerced or manipulated into a situation, and your attitude … You’ve threatened me with the only thing I can’t refuse, and you’ve done it here in my home. You have shattered my peace, Ormond. How did you think I’d feel about it? Do you know how it feels, afterall these years, to still be seen as an unhinged mage who needs a guardian because I apparently clearly can’t be trusted to live on my own?’
Ani inhaled sharply, fighting a losing battle to hold back angry tears.
‘You know what? No, I refuse to be owned. So fuck it. Fuck the geas, fuck you, and fuck the king and the horse he rode in on. What can he do? Kill me? Officially, I’m already dead.’ Ani’s statement was spoken with quiet determination, accompanied by slowly building magic. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and the coppery taste of fear coated my tongue as the destructive power of a conduit mage slowly surfaced.
‘No!’ I said, grasping Ani’s arms, enduring the burning pain from the magic coursing through her body. I knew I had to stop her before she cast a spell in drunken anger. After a moment’s struggle, the burning lessened, and her body softened in my arms.
I let Ani catch her breath, trying to ignore the now delightful sensation of holding her close. The tingling where our bare skin met was intoxicating, almost as if silken strands of magic were sliding over my flesh, binding us together.
‘Annika, stop. I’m trying to give you a choice, one where you get to set your terms. Just give me a chance to explain. Did you really think the royal mage would let you go? I had to give him something.’
‘You could have left me alone. And what the hell do you think you’re doing?’
‘Helping you contain your anger. I don’t want to fight, and I don’t want to hurt you if I’m forced to defend myself. Control yourself, mage, or I will be forced to control you. So, can I let go? Or does anger still cloud your judgment?’ I argued calmly, noticing her cheeks redden at my insult, but at least she stopped struggling.
‘Let me go, or my magic will do something we both regret. I was only trying to erase the geas spell from my mind before you could use it on me.’ Her eyes sent daggers at me.‘I won’t be anyone’s puppet.’
I bristled at the comment but couldn’t help admiring her defiance.
‘It would kill you. Even I know that’s impossible! I can’t believe you’re bold enough to have tried it. I was merely holding you down.’ I paused. ‘Your magic feels … interesting. Tell me why it’s wrapping itself around me,’ I said, releasing her and backing up, my hands raised to show my peaceful intentions.
Ani stood motionless for a moment before sitting on the grass with a heavy sigh.
‘Because I have no Anchors. What you felt was my magic trying to tether us together. When my emotions are high, the most primal part of my power takes control, and it only requires skin-to-skin contact … You don’t want to become a mage’s Anchor, trust me,’ she ended with a bitter laugh.
‘Does it react like this to anyone?’ I asked, unable to rein in my curiosity.
‘No, but few dare try pinning me down against my will.’ She lowered her head. ‘My power has become more unstable recently. You saw for yourself in the town square, and … thank you for helping me contain it … it’s become wilful and is trying to attach itself to any compatible being. That’s what you felt, even if it shouldn’t happen. I’m a broken mage, Ormond.’
I raised my eyebrow at her open honesty.
‘May I ask why?’
‘Why what? Why I refuse to be bound? Why I would need to be? Or do you mean why I would bind you?’ she asked dismissively, clearly expecting me to know what she meant. However, whilst I knew some of Ani’s history, most of it was a complete mystery.
‘Any of those? All? You were kind enough to point out my ignorance, perhaps you should educate me.’
‘I don’t know why my magic wants you. You’re not even a mage. Yet I feel … something between us. I refuse to take another Anchor because I cannot let myself care for someone again. Why do I need to be Anchored? Because the amount of aether I can draw through my body is terrifying and unstable. Each time I cast a spell without an Anchor, I risk losing control and killing everyone around me, myself included.’
‘How does it work? I admit I know little about conduit mages.’
‘We are the access to unlimited power, like a dam on a raging river that can be opened and closed at will. Where a regular mage is like a goblet, able to hold a certain amount of magic, we can channel limitless magic. There is a danger, though. It is easy to open the dam, but to close it, one mage’s will is never enough, and the stronger the conduit, the more Anchors they need to help shut off the aether,’ she started.
‘And the limitless magic … the human body can only withstand so much. Each time a conduit’s ability is used, it is euphoric, but the mage is left weakened for minutes or hours, sometimes even for days. At the same time, their Anchors, if they are close by, no longer need to use their reserves, and their spells become powerful beyond measure. The effect lasts for some time, even after the conduit closes the gateway to the aether.’
