Immortals After Dark 04 - Wicked Deeds on a Winters Night

was still awake, hungrier and now shivering. Though she was abjectly miserable, she’d thought she would sleep through anything—
    “ Come tae me, ” she heard from a distance.
    She shot upright, squinting into the shadows. At the entrance of the cave, warm amber eyes glowed in the darkness. He’d come back!
    “Ah, you’re excited about my return, then,” he murmured. “Your heart sped up at the verra sound of my voice.”
    The nerve! “Only because I’m eager to throw you around some more. That’ll never get old.”
    “You’re cold and still soaked through.”
    “Nothing escapes you.”
    “I’ve something for you to eat.”
    At the thought of more gel packs or green bananas, she almost retched, but then the scent of something cooked, something heavenly, assailed her. “What is that smell?” she asked just as the others awakened one by one.
    “Food for you, Mariketa,” he answered. “A feast of it.” Beside his spot at the edge of the cave, she spied what looked like grilled fish and crayfish, as well as some kind of roasted meat laid out on a smooth flank of wood. Succulent fruits lay in abundant piles, with not a green banana among them.
    As her mouth watered, Rydstrom muttered, “Methinks your Lykae is trying to impress you. What he can’t take, he’ll tempt.”
    “Shut it, demon,” she said, and he gave a half laugh.
    “There’s food enough for everyone, and I will bargain for it,” MacRieve said.
    “What do you want?” Tera asked, rubbing her eyes.
    “As you likely overheard, it seems the wee witch might have cast more than one spell over me, a spell that makes me think of her as my mate. So I’m no’ letting her out of my sight—I will be accompanying her on the trek out of the jungle and will fight anyone who tries to stand in my way. When I settle my plans for her and she agrees to them, you’ll abide by them as well. No interfering.”
    “What plans for me?” Mari demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.
    “You’ve three options, Mariketa. First, deny you cast the spell. Second, admit the truth and remove it. Or third, for the duration of our adventure here you’ll vow no’ to use magick near—or at—me again and you’ll prepare to have yourself a mate.”
    “What exactly does that mean?”
    “Long and short—I’ll provide food for you, I’ll protect you, and you’ll do whatever I tell you.” As she sputtered, he said, “I think once you’ve experienced what it’s like to have me—an overpowering, commanding Lykae—ordering you about, you’ll do whatever’s necessary to get rid of me.”
    “I already want to get rid of you!” she cried. “I’d take a freaking incubus over you, and I’d take him with a cheery smile and hello kiss.”
    “Ach, you wound, witchling,” he said, sounding not the least wounded.
    “Even had I done what you’re accusing me of, I don’t know how to reverse it. You’ve seen firsthand how little control I have over my powers.”
    “Necessity is the mother of invention. If you get sick enough of me, I’m sure you’ll figure something out. Or you can simply deny that you’ve done this.”
    “Mari, just tell him you didn’t do it,” Tera said.
    She couldn’t! “I don’t believe I did. But I... I can’t make a vow to that.”
    “Then you’ve only two other options. Decide.” To Rydstrom, he said, “You gain a feast and another male to guard her—if you do no’ interfere when I treat her as mine.”
    Mari glanced around the cave. They’re considering it! All but Cade, who had a calculating, unsettling look in his eyes. “You people have all gone mad. I despise him.” She met MacRieve’s eyes and snapped, “If you think I’ll sleep with you, you’re cracked, deranged.”
    “I have no need to compel you to sleep with me,” he interrupted, his tone so smug. “That is no’ part of this deal.”
    “I will never agree to this. Never—”
    “Before you decide,” MacRieve interrupted, “know that if you were my mate, I’d make sure you had whatever you needed to be comfortable.” Her lips parted when he pulled her bag from behind him and proceeded to dig through it. “Like your toothbrush.” He held up her pink toothbrush.
    He’d retrieved her things from her car? And rooted through her personal possessions.
    She’d seen MacRieve’s ferocity, and now she was getting a good glimpse of his sly side, his tricksy side. She could see what Rydstrom had been talking about. MacRieve seemed...