(4)The spell that turned land to darkness

We arrived later that night. Blake stopped in front of a cracked stone that seemed to have been placed there on purpose, a landmark of some sort.

I had agreed to help him, but I had no intention of marrying him. The only problem? I needed him. He claimed he could reverse my spell—or at least hinted that he could. For the time being, that was enough.

The sun was still swallowed by darkness, hidden behind a heavy curtain—waiting to shine through the fabric.

Would it ever light up again?

Blake turned to me then, and the air thickened, lodging in my throat. His eyes met mine, golden and shimmery, like molten metal or crystals trapped inside his body. Beautiful. Unreal. Frightening.

He took a step and closed the distance between us. His eyes roamed over me, memorizing every detail. A knowing smile spread across his lips, as if he could read every disturbed thought I’d ever had about him.

“Lyra?”

For a second, I stilled and became no more living than a statue. I wanted to pull back, but the look in his eyes held me there—restrained me.

“Yes.” I was breathless and could barely stand. I’d only just met him, and that made my reaction to him ridiculous.

“Once we step in there…” He gestured to a small, dark cabin at the end of the path. “You belong to me. There will be no hesitation.”

A warning.

“Is that clear, Lyra?”

The way he said my name flushed my skin, heated my body and burned my insides to a crisp.

When I didn’t answer, he pulled me against his chest and held me there. I liked it—and wanted to punch myself for even thinking it.

“What are you doing?” I whispered.

He ignored me.

“Do you want to come inside?”

I understood the meaning. If I accepted, I would have to marry him.

My answer came immediately. “No.”

He laughed, and my insides melted at the sound.

“Are you planning to stay out here all night then?”

“Yes.” I said it like a question, as if it were obvious. “What do you think?”

He laughed again, and I wanted to stifle the sound with my bare hands. I hated how he made me feel.

Blake raised an eyebrow, studying me, as if I were an assignment he needed to solve. Then he leaned down, his lips hovering above mine.

“Are you lying to me… or to yourself?”

His breath bathed my skin in warmth, and to my own reluctance, I relished it.

“I’m not—”

“Lyra…” he interrupted softly. “Please… come inside.”

I could hardly stop the gasp that escaped me.

Why did everything about him seem so familiar? He was like a taste I’d had before but couldn’t remember.

“Please…” he repeated. It sounded so genuine, so weak and tender, and I despised how my heart responded to him. I was an inferno in his presence.

Oh God. How would I ever survive locked in a house with him—with nowhere to run or hide?

I shook my head. I couldn’t.

He pulled back. “Fine. But for your own safety you should stay here.”

He turned his back to me and left.

I frowned, incredulous. “You’re leaving me?”

“I won’t make you join me. But know this—I’ll be thinking of you when I lie in my warm bed… without you.”

“Blake?!” I shouted after him, but he kept walking and never turned around. “How do you know I won’t just leave after you close the door?”

“Beware of the wolf”, he called over his shoulder, his voice laced with amusement. “They’ll be looking for easy prey such as yourself.”

I scoffed.

When he reached the cabin, he jerked the door open and slipped inside.

I was left alone.

Fine. I didn’t need him—I would fix the spell myself. I turned back the way we came.

He would regret this. I was sure of it.

And by then, I’d be long gone.