Golden Stair by Jennifer Blackstream Read Free Book Online

a superb position to hear the clacking of several rocks as they hit the stone floor, a few of them bouncing off the thick rug he’d half-fallen onto. Adonis opened his eyes slightly, blinking rapidly as he realized she’d thrown a handful of stones around him to form a circle. Too late, his addled brain registered what she was doing. He reached out a hand a split second after a word in an ancient tongue left her lips.
     
    A circle of protection snapped into place, the energy of the protective wards tingling against his skin. The first hot touch of anger slid across his mind.
     
    “What are you doing?” he asked quietly.
     
    The woman didn’t answer. She continued to rush around the room, putting out fires and mumbling to herself in a semi-hysterical fashion. In too much pain to think straight, Adonis just lay there, watching her and trying to stay calm. Things had gone very wrong, very fast, and he had no idea what to do about it.
     
    She doesn’t look familiar. Surely for an attack of this magnitude it must be personal? How can she hate me if we’ve never met? Adonis laid his head against the floor, shoving away his anger and trying to think of where he might have seen the fiery maid, what he might have done to deserve her reaction. The fact that she was a virgin made it even more confusing and also even less likely that he’d ever met her before. Not that Adonis would ever forget a woman. He was an incubus, the most attentive lover one could ever hope to encounter. He remembered every woman he’d ever kissed, remembered her scent, her curves, the look in her eyes as passion finally swept her over the edge…
     
    Who the hell was this lunatic?
     
    Faint sounds of clinking ceramic filled his ears and he grimaced. At some point he’d closed his eyes and as he opened them, he realized he had no idea how much time had passed. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? He looked out the window. The sun didn’t appear to have moved that much. Perhaps he’d only rested his eyes for a moment. He’d expended too much energy too carelessly. With any luck, he’d healed himself enough that he wouldn’t die, but he had no way to be sure. Idly, he wondered what he would do if this body did die. His vow would be broken, Aphrodite would no doubt have a few choice tortures in mind.
     
    “This is going to cost me,” he mumbled.
     
    “What did you say?”
     
    Ivy was talking to him. Adonis watched warily as the woman set a teacup on the floor and nudged it into the circle of stone. The sweet smell of herbs swirled past his nose on a trickle of steam and he lifted his head slightly. “What is that?”
     
    “It will heal the burns,” she said softly.
     
    Adonis blinked. Ivy’s eyes were bright and she held them wide open as if to ward off the threat of tears. Her hands trembled and she floundered a moment then crossed her arms and clutched them to her chest. She looked everywhere but at him. Adonis chewed on the inside of his lip. The woman standing in front of him was a world apart from the woman who had nearly incinerated him just a moment ago.
     
    For a moment there was silence, broken only by the thunder of his heartbeat as his tortured body fought to stay alive. Every breath was torture, every wisp of wind agony against his mottled flesh. His wing throbbed underneath him and Adonis clenched his teeth as he realized he had to roll over. He needed his wings if he was going to stand a chance at escape, or going home. Without any magic left, he’d be a target for attacks by goblins, but his reputation may be enough to gamble on. Or they might try to eat him alive mid-flight. Lying prone, Adonis rubbed a hand over the back of his neck, wondering if it was time to call in that favor…
     
    Adonis started to sit up, but a fresh wave of pain convinced him to remain still. He swayed a little and settled back on the floor. A whimper fluttered against his ears and he turned his attention to Ivy. She’d clapped a hand over her mouth