Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(24)

I had my arms through the sleeves of the shirt and was about to pull it over my head when Caden’s body suddenly crushed mine against the cave wall, his arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace.

“Just go along,” he whispered in my ear, close enough that his bottom lip grazed my earlobe, sending ticklish shivers through my body.

And then he was kissing me.

I had only ever kissed a boy once in my life—a chubby, awkward fourteen–year–old named Stewart who was staying in the same foster home as me. The kiss had been the result of a lost bet. It had been a dreadful, open–mouthed fish kiss and I was sure he would swallow my tongue whole. Even I—unseasoned in the make–out department—recognized that Stewart wasn’t going to get far with the ladies without vast improvement. This kiss was nothing like that. It began soft and inviting, only to intensify into urgency. Caden knew what he was doing.

Please don’t wake up right now! I pleaded with my subconscious, enjoying this too much.

“Who’s back here?” a voice called.

Caden’s grip around me tightened. His lips slid off mine as he guided my face into his strong, broad chest, away from the voice. I was relieved that my half–dressed body was well hidden against his.

“Do you mind? We’re busy,” Caden spat toward the voice.

“Indeed,” another voice said. “We’re looking for Jethro. These are his caves. You wouldn’t happen to know where he’s disappeared to?” The lilt in his voice screamed suspicion.

“Don’t know. This place was vacant when we stumbled across it a few weeks ago,” Caden replied, his tone icy.

“That’s odd … Jethro’s occupied these mountains since the war. I’m surprised he would abandon them.”

War? My palms began sweating at the mention of Jethro, the image of those cold, spidery eyes clear in my memory.

“What can I say? I guess they needed a change,” Caden answered, turning to caress my cheek with his cold nose, feigning ignorance. Another shiver ran through my body.

“What’s with all the torches around here?” a second male voice said. “You planning on burning someone?”

I tensed up. Caden’s arms gripped my body more securely. A warning squeeze.

“We like firelight. Now beat it, unless you wanna watch,” Caden said, his lips now running along the side of my neck, as if he were dismissing the two men. My knees buckled but he was prepared for my reaction, holding me upright.

“What’s that?” one of them suddenly hissed.

Caden pivoted smoothly, turning so I was completely hidden from them.

The dress, I thought, panicking. I scanned the cave floor but couldn’t see any green satin.

“It’s called foreplay. If you don’t know what comes next, I suggest you go find someone to teach you. The Council has a bunch of prepubescent girls to practice on.” Caden smirked, acting nonchalant, trying to steer them away from whatever they had noticed. It didn’t work.

“It looked like a wound.”

My eyes instinctively darted to the raw, reddened skin on my shoulder where I’d hit the cave wall. Why would that matter?

“You must be seeing things.” Caden’s voice was light and humorous.

There was a pause. I thought his efforts had paid off. They may have, had the sounds from a violent commotion not drifted in from the main room just then.

“Don’t—” Caden growled, but he didn’t have a chance to finish before being wrenched from me and launched across the room.

A tall man took three quick strides to stand in front of me, his hand reaching out to roughly grip my arm as he inspected my shoulder. His steely blue eyes searched my face, stopping briefly at the light sheen of sweat on my forehead before locking with my own terrified eyes. With his short, strawberry–blonde hair and chiseled face, I would have considered him attractive had he not been looking at me predatorily.

He let out a low whistle. “I’m seeing it but surely I don’t believe it.” He inhaled deeply. “I can’t smell it.” He paused in thought. “Where have you been hiding, little one?”

I bit my lip and remained silent, though I doubt I could have formed two words, had I wanted to.

“Don’t hurt her,” Caden grunted. “She can lead us to more.”

I glanced over to see him pinned beneath an ape–like fellow with no neck, the kind who spends more time in the gym than sleeping.

“Oh, I would never hurt you, trust me,” the man crooned innocently to me, his voice so soothing that my body intuitively relaxed, wanting to trust him. He reached up to grip my chin with his thumb and index finger, effortlessly pushing my head back until I couldn’t see anything but the cave ceiling.

I sensed him leaning in. Oh God, he’s going to kiss me. And then probably rape me. I cringed.

And then I felt pain. Sharp, stabbing pain as something pierced my exposed neck. My mouth opened to scream but only a gurgle escaped. I struggled to break free, swinging my arms in defense, but every move sent jolts of acute pain through my body, as if I were snagged on a barbwire fence. I stopped fighting.

The ceiling began spinning as dizziness set in and my body slackened. Soon my arms hung limply at my sides. The pain finally dulled to an uncomfortable pressure. Only then did I sense the extreme burning sensation against my chest.