Golden Stair by Jennifer Blackstream Read Free Book Online Page B

friend of mine and we…became separated.” He gestured at the debris around him, encompassing his own wounds as well. “As you can see, it was not intentional.”
     
    “You were flying with an angel?”
     
    Flying with, flying on. Semantics aren’t germane here. “Yes.”
     
    “You’re referring to the Angel of Death, adopted son of the king of Meropis.”
     
    Adopted? Angel of Death? Adonis penned a mental note to learn more about Patricio after he escaped his current predicament. If he escaped. He surveyed Ivy, the emotions he could see boiling just under the surface. Sun elementals were known for their lack of self-control nearly as much as their fire. If he could push her, it was possible she would slip up enough to allow him to escape. Of course, she might fry him too, but then what was life without risk?
     
    “The angel I was flying with was not Prince Patricio,” he corrected her. “Her name was Helena , and she was a delightful young lady who is probably wondering what happened to me.” Assuming she’s noticed I’m gone. Flighty woman, that Helena .
     
    “Don’t bother lying to me,” Ivy spat.
     
    Her gaze flickered over his body and she tilted her head in consideration. Adonis looked down and started when he discovered his body had healed to the point that the oozing burns of moments ago were just bright pink skin now. He continued to heal, so fast he could practically see it. He snatched up the teacup from where he’d set it down and sniffed the remains. It didn’t smell any different from any number of herbal teas he’d had in the past. Cherry bark, slippery elm, and a few other odds and ends. Wide-eyed, he found himself peering at her in a new light.
     
    “No one can get into this dimension except me and my mother,” she said firmly. “I don’t know how you got through the gateway, but you must have raped a lot of women to get that kind of power.”
     
    A split second later, Adonis was on his feet, his entire body straining against the magic of the circle. His muscles burned with desperation to get out of the spelled area, his vision clouded as the world seemed to narrow down to just the screeching harpy in front of him. Ivy shrieked and jerked backwards. Adonis’ teeth bit into his lower lip as his canines dropped. His wings flared out around him as he struggled to rein in his temper.
     
    “In my six-hundred years,” he choked, “I have never taken an unwilling woman.” His voice bled into a whine not unlike a wolf about to attack. His knees trembled as he pushed against the magic circle holding him, a voice inside him howling the need for vengeance, the conviction that he must make her take back her blasphemous accusation. “Not once, nor would I ever. Kill me if you’re going to, but know that I will not sit here and listen to you accuse me of such heinous crimes. Of the two of us, the only one who has demonstrated any thirst for violence is you. ”
     
    Suddenly a pink light bobbed into his line of sight again. Instinctively, he jerked back, nearly going cross-eyed as he tried to focus on it. His lips parted as he realized it was the will o’ wisp that had caused him to fall into this blasted tower in the first place. Emotion radiated from the ball of light.
     
    Calm. Smooth waves of peace rolled over him, slowing the rush of blood in his veins and blunting the edge of his temper. Without meaning to, Adonis relaxed and stopped straining against the circle. Irritation ratcheted up his pulse as he realized the fey was using glamour on him. He gritted his teeth and slashed his claws through the air toward the fey, batting at it like one would swat an annoying insect. “Spare me your glamour,” he snarled. “I will deal with you later.”
     
    He turned his attention back to Ivy, pausing when he noticed all her attention was on the will o’ wisp. She wrapped her arms around her body, turning away from the fey even as her gaze remained locked on it.
     
    “What is