“How did I get this?”

“From the storm. The waves swept you up into the rocks near the cove. It wasn’t gentle.”

“I don’t really remember that to be honest.”

Alrik nodded, the action sending locks of dark hair over his shoulder. “Not surprising, you hit it so hard you went out like a light. I brought us here.”

Abby swung her head around. This didn’t look like the little beach coast with forest directly behind it like she’d grown accustomed to. “Where are we?”

He looked out behind him, a hard look on his face. “South.”

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The way he said it put her on edge. “Is that all? I get the feeling there’s more to it than that.” Which probably didn’t bode well for her. Nothing seemed to lately.

“I haven’t traveled this way in many years. Used to be that a band of rogues formed a settlement south of here.”

“Rogue demons. Is that what you are?”

His body stiffened, muscles hardening as he turned back to level a lethal glare on her. She might have been nervous at the deadly look but it lost some of its power considering he’d never hurt her. He needed her too badly.

“I was banished, but I’m still a king. Not a rogue.”

“What makes the rogues so different?” She didn’t mention it but his hand still lingered on her bruised skin, the touch light. She liked him standing this close. He blocked out the cold wind, and, honestly, he made her warm all over.

“They didn’t enjoy life at court so they left. Let’s just leave it at that.”

“Okay.” Something about the warmth of his body, his soft touch on her skin had her eyes drifting back down to his mouth.

“You shouldn’t look at me like that, Abbigail.” An ache traced in his voice.

“Like what?” she asked, her voice breathy. Her whole body started a slow burn deep and low inside her working its way out. How did he make her feel so much with the barest of touches? His head dipped in low. Her eyes darted to his firm, shapely lips and wondered what they’d feel like against hers, what he would kiss like. Wild, hard, and a bit crazy like him?

“Like you want something I can’t give you.”

“Why not?” She blushed at her knee-jerk response but held firm to it. She wanted to know, needed to know. This was more than curiosity. Something else had taken hold of her and guided her words and actions now from some need that he’d brought forth.

He leaned in closer. His hand flattened against her cool skin in a possessive caress that sent her gaze low and hooded. His lips closed in, then stopped a scant inch away. Heat bloomed in her chest and between her legs. She panted against his lips. It took every bit of strength inside her not to reach up and curl her fingers around his shoulders

When he spoke she felt his warm breath on her lips. “Because the last woman I kissed ended up dead.”

Abby jerked away from his touch. Her shirt fell back into place. “What?” Just like that the heat was doused into nothing.

He stepped away and shrugged, a strange glint shining in his eyes. “Don’t worry about it. It’s none of your business.”

Her heart beat wildly. “Oh, I think this is all my business. I’m here with you all alone in this god-forsaken place and you’re so closed mouth about everything I just want to rip my hair out. You can’t leave me hanging with that. How did she die? What happened?”

Who was she? She didn’t voice that question. It seemed too personal and a spark of anger flashed inside her at the thought of this woman. Jealousy? No, no way.

She saw him transform between her very eyes. He stood tall once again, unbreakable and strong. His gaze sheltered his thoughts; his face had shifted into a blank, unreadable mask. “I left some food in your shelter. Eat it then we’ll get to work.”

Abby paced an agitated circle. “You seriously can’t think to keep me out of the loop on this. What’s with you and talking about death and murder like it’s second nature to you?”

“Because it is.”

Abby stopped dead. Something in his voice, in the harsh look of his eyes made her feel something she never would have thought she would for Alrik. She pitied him. He looked tortured, if only for a second before the look faded away to resolute anger. A strange realization came over her. He didn’t like who he was. He didn’t like this person the curse had created. This was a person who’d relish a bloody fight or seek out anger instead of compromise. He hated himself.

“Alrik...”

“Eat, witch.” He strode away and slipped his shirt back on. He didn’t stop walking.

“So we’re back to that now are we,” Abby muttered.

One step forward, three steps back. Whatever, she could use some time to collect her thoughts. One second she’s devouring him with her eyes, the next she’s practically begging him to kiss her, and then he’s giving her ominous warnings.

Abby found some cooked meat sitting on a big plant leaf in the stone house. She ate it with relish and by the time she came back out Alrik had returned looking tightly in control of himself. She sighed and scrubbed her hands down her jeans.

“What’s on the agenda for today?”

“We’ll work the same spell again and this time practice on just me. After you get me to move, we’re heading south.”

Her eyebrow rose. “South where the dangerous rogues are? Why are we going there?”

“I need supplies. I might be able to get some there.” He walked some twenty paces away from her then stopped and faced her. “My mother will also be south.”

Abby wracked her mind for times and dates. Her mother must have heard about what had happened to her by now and would be worried sick. She’d been gone, what, three days now? God, she wasn’t even sure.

“Just how long will it take to reach your mother?”

“I don’t know.”

Abby rolled her eyes, her patience waning. “Well, try to guess, please.”

He was silent for several moments, his gaze calculating. “It may take three weeks, maybe longer.”

She choked. “Three weeks or more. I can’t be gone that long!”

His dark eyes narrowed. “If your magic was at the level it needs to be at then we could head there now. As it stands, you are not nearly strong enough to fight my mother. She’ll kill you in an instant.”

“Isn’t that nice...”

“Do not take this lightly, Abbigail. The queen has strong magical blood in her veins. She’s spent years using it, harnessing it behind closed doors. I can only guess at how powerful she’s really become.”

“I wasn’t being...oh, whatever. Let’s just do this.”

Alrik nodded and crossed his strong arms across his chest. What a shame he’d put his shirt back on, but it was for the best. She couldn’t do with getting distracted by a pretty body.

Abby called upon her magic. It filled her body making her skin warm and her eyes burn with glowing light. She focused with her mind on Alrik. She envisioned throwing him far back. But she didn’t let her magic couple with the vision. She worked up to that. This was practice to get her focused.

“Do it already!” he bit out.

Abby clenched her jaw then raised her hands to him letting the magic fly from her fingertips. Burning energy soared from her like not needed lightning escaping from her fingertips, blasting against Alrik knocking him clear off his feet and sending him flying back through the air.

An ecstatic squeal escaped her as he landed hard on the ground. He was slow to stand, so she took that time jumping up and down and doing a fist pump.

“I did it! Ha! Take that, Alrik. I wiped you clean off your butt.”

He wiped dirt off his pants then came back to the spot he’d marked before. “Do it again.”

Her jaw dropped. “No way. There’s no way I’ll be able to do that again.” She could already feel her body tiring just from that one exertion.

“Do. It. Again.”

She started to yell or say something biting but clamped her mouth shut. Bitterness filled her. “Can’t I even get a ‘congratulations’ or a ‘good job’?”