He opened his mouth to counter her argument, but she squeezed his hand.You’ve spent so long protecting everyone else, you haven’t lived. Let yourself have this.
One last squeeze of his hand and she stood, straightened her dress, and with one last indulgent smile, walked away, leaving him with the tremendous weight of the same duty she begged him to abandon.
Mark stood on the other side of the door when she unlocked it. “Oh, I’m sorry. I can come back…” He started to turn, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him inside. Then she closed the door, deafening, charged silence, occupying the immense space she left behind.
Caster was on his feet, the invisible pull of Mark’s presence too great to ignore. But he hesitated as he drew closer, stopping short of touching him. His hands balled at his sides, itching to feel his skin, to check for the effects of Edie’s spell.
“I’m afraid that anything I say will just…” Mark whispered, the words he didn’t say trapped in the tiny space between them.
His initial resistance crumbled, and Caster reached for his hand, the touch light, a simple brush of his fingers. He shook his head, closing his eyes against the denial, and stepped closer, so close he could feel Mark’s breath on his face. “Then let’s not say anything.”
Mark’s lips brushed his, and he was lost. He didn’t dare open his eyes as he gave in to the need to taste him. He opened himself to the eternity of the moment, the familiar pass of Mark’s tongue over his saying everything they couldn’t. His hand gripped Mark’s in a tight hold as he acquiesced to Mark’s plea for his dominance. Before he could even process it, Caster had him against the door, taking everything he could, while he still could.
Mark responded with complete submission, relaxing into the door, plaint even as Caster’s need to take everything transformed the simple kiss into a demand for more.
The threat surrounding them invaded the rational part of his mind, his immense duty, imposing itself on the beauty of the moment. He pulled away, keeping Mark pinned against the door. Their chests rose and fell with their exerted breaths. “Even in the midst of life-threatening danger, I can’t help but want to lose myself in you.”
Mark’s eyes remained closed, as if he too feared letting reality invade their space. He licked his lips, tempting him further, but Caster tamped down on his needs.
“Look at me!” He didn’t have to wait too long for Mark’s obedience. “Let’s stick to the plan?”
Mark’s imperceptible nod was punctuated by a sigh that begged Caster to forget everything but him.
“We’ll talk about it. About all of it, once the witch is no longer a threat.”
That part of him that his mother wanted him to relinquish was necessary if they were to survive today. Mark’s safety was important to him, but so was his duty. The witch holding them prisoner wanted Mark for reasons that remained unclear, but she’d also killed his kind with impunity if the Made-Vampire army outside was any indication.
He couldn’t overlook that. It was possible to fulfill his duty to his kind and keep Mark safe, wasn’t it?
The short distance from Caster’s study to the conference room where everyone else waited passed in silence. It was a good sign that Caster still held his hand, squeezing it every few seconds as if to offer his strength. This was all his fault. If he hadn’t been born, perhaps the witch…
Mark’s current train of thought fell into a gasp when Caster stopped, grabbed him, and pushed him against the closest wall. The anger in his demeanor was almost overwhelming, but Mark wasn’t afraid, lowering his gaze in response.
He grabbed his chin, the hold tight enough to cause a dull, distant ache. “You listen to me and listen well.” He pulled atMark’s jaw, forcing him to look into his eyes. “This is not your fault. Do you hear me?”
He could only nod.
“Say it.”
He started to shake his head, but Caster tightened his grip, halting all movement.
Time slowed, the storm gathering in Caster’s eyes, tremendous in its intensity. “Say it, now!”
“It’s not my fault.” He repeated Caster’s words, his voice dull, devoid of the belief and conviction Caster demanded. “She’s only here because she wants me.”
Caster eased his grip, a reprieve for his jaw, but his body was unyielding as it trapped him against the wall. “No. She wants more power. You seem to be in her way.” He refused to let him move or even look away from that storm. “She will have to go through me to get to you.”
The conviction of his words converted the promise into a vow, and Mark breathed a sigh.
Caster eased up, but still didn’t let him move. “Now, put that barrier back up.” His hand returned to his face, but a gentle caress on his jaw replaced the hardness of before. “We will discuss your disobedience when all of this is done.”
“I’m sorry, I forgot.” His whisper was small, all focus drawn to the simple touch. His eyes drifted shut as he drew on his dwindling strength to fortify his mind.
“Good.” Caster’s hand fell away, and he stepped back, his warmth retreating with him. “If you need to tell me somethingin private, you reach into my mind.” He took Mark’s hand, pulling him towards the conference room.
Caster squeezed his hand once and released it the moment they stepped inside. “I don’t know about all of you, but I’m not this witch’s puppet.” He turned to Riley. “I know you have a plan to get us out of here. Let’s hear it.”
Riley glanced at Ben, shaking his head in what looked like a silent apology. There was something there, but Mark couldn’t worry about it now, not when Mikey stared at him with unrestrained pity. Caster was right, they needed to get out of here, whatever the cost.