CHAPTER 2 You Don't Command Me

　　"You don't command me, Hawk." I hissed.

　　"Don't I?" His lips turned. Eyes still yellowed with dark intent. He let his hand trail down from my breast. Molding the flat plane of my belly and over my hip.

　　I knew a moment of fear. Realizing I'd baited him too far. What would he really do to me?

　　I looked past him toward the doorway. Wondering if summoning someone to help me really was the wisest course.

　　He leaned to whisper near my ear, brushing blonde strands. "Tough decision, isn't it?"

　　"You're despicable."

　　"You don't even know the half of it, Mary Mage."

　　"My name is Mary."

　　"Not to me." His gaze roved my face intently. As his hand molded around the inside of my thighs. His fingers slipping between as he ran his hand up toward my tender lower lips. Turning his hand to just brush his fingertips.

　　"Hawk!" I jumped. I tried to force my body to run away, but it wouldn't move.

　　"Challenge me again, Mary Mage." He slid a finger into me.

　　I drew a shaking breath. Gasping in shock as I glared at him.

　　"Go ahead." He grinned. "Call for help. Try to explain away what's happening."

　　"They would say you dishonored me." I accused.

　　"Yes. And they'd demand I wed you. Something I'd gladly do to have you pinned underneath me every night."

　　I hissed venomously.

　　"There's that fire I love." He growled seductively.

　　I jerked several times, fighting to move but found I could not. "Stop it!"

　　He chuckled and withdrew his hand from my heat. Meeting my gaze as he lifted his finger, sucking it between his lips. "You taste as wild as you are. A half feral little thing."

　　I was shaking with rage.

　　"I can't wait to have you." He purred. Turning and walking away.

　　***

　　"Hawk! Hawk!" I called.

　　He left me standing there. Glued to the floor and unable to move. He turned back from the doorway. "Enjoy your freedom while you may, Mary Mage."

　　"You'll never have me, Hawk!"

　　"Oh, it's unwise to underestimate me, Girl."

　　My stomach dropped sickeningly because I knew he was right.

　　He was dangerous. I've never found him above anything.

　　He's utterly conscienceless.

　　And why he'd set his sights on me, I had no idea. Though I'd tried everything to dissuade his intentions.

　　He cast a last lingering glance over my body. From my feet up to my hair before uttering an admiring growl and walking from the room.

　　Only when he'd left did my body relax. Going back under my control.

　　Well, that was the most terrifying thing he's done yet.

　　But the last few months he'd been escalating his game. Scaring me with the new lengths he'd go to intimidate me.

　　"I'm not scared of you, Hawk." I called out of the Main Room.

　　"Perhaps you should be." He called from the second level. Voice laden with humor as his steps echoed hollowly through the castle.

　　Perhaps I should. But I refused to be afraid of anyone!

　　Breakfast and Bullies

　　I hated going to breakfast.

　　I didn't want to go.

　　But I was hungry. As my stomach loudly reminded me. I was praying just once, Hawk had better things to do then linger down there waiting for me.

　　I threw on my Indo-Mage Gown. A dress that came to my knees. I'd graduate to a full-length robe once I was recognized as a Full Mage.

　　Like Hawk.

　　I put on my heavy gray Seer's Veil. One many of the females wore to hide their features. So, they can be recognized for their magic rather than how pretty of face they are.

　　I in particular favored wearing the dense veil pinned to the back of my head and folded over the front. My long straight blonde ponytail poured from beneath it down my back in smooth lines.

　　I hurried down the steps. Intent on grabbing a quick bit of bread and cheese and escaping the Mess Hall.

　　I crept in seeing a cluster of the more senior Mages near the egg table I veered to the bread counter. Scooping off a heavy loaf and a blot of waxy butter I turned to scamper from the room as quickly as I'd come.

　　Instead, I slammed into the hard lines of a solid chest. Before I even looked up, I knew it was him. I recognized his earthen rain-soaked sent. My eyes skimmed up his hard length to his blue eyes. Knowing he couldn't see my features behind the veil.

　　"Mary Mage..." He crooned. "Where have we been dallying this morning?"

　　He cocked his head in mocking chiding.

　　I retreated to put distance between us, but he followed me. Predatorily matching my steps until I felt a table pressed to the back of my thighs. I was careful to remain silent in the hopes he wasn't completely certain it was me beneath the veil.

　　There are other blondes. I told myself reassuringly.

　　He leaned to whisper near my ear. "This robe isn't nearly as tempting as what you were wearing last night."

　　"I wasn't-"

　　Wearing anything! I caught myself. Realizing he'd baited me into using my voice despite myself. I looked around and saw everyone was watching.

　　While I was looking at them, he was assessing me. Before I could react, he leaned over and caught the back of my thighs, tossing my rear up on the table.

　　I gasped and tried to slide off as he stepped between my knees. Suddenly finding myself thrusting my most intimate areas against his.

　　Hissing in aggravation I slid back up on the table.

　　"That a girl." He patted the outside of my thigh. "Though I didn't mind you sliding on me, it's not proper for new Mages to behave as a wanton." He paused to give me a thoughtful look.

　　"Unless they already belong to a Senior Mage." The suggestive look on his face made his meaning clear.

　　"I won't ever belong to you!" I hissed under my breath.

　　"You already do." He whacked my outer thigh meaningfully. "Do you see anyone willing to save you?"

　　He gestured around and I knew he was right. No one moved on my behalf.

　　Ready to obey any of his commands.

　　"They'd let me take you right here on the table, if I wished it." He snatched a fistful of hair at the back of my head and held me fast to whisper along the shell of my ear. "I could be buried in your moist heat right now. And no one would do a damn thing to stop me."

　　I jerked my head trying to struggle free.

　　His eyes flicked to wear my robes had begun to part over my breasts. Revealing a bit of the hollow between. "Keep struggling and that's like to come open."

　　I hissed something scathing and shoved him back. Launching off the table to stalk past him.

　　"Oh, Mary Mage.” He sing songed. “What about your breakfast?"

　　He nodded back toward the table where my loaf had tumbled across, and the platter of butter was still balanced on the edge.

　　"You're a cad!" I stalked back to the table and leaned over a chair back to reach the butter.

　　Not seeing him flick two fingers upward which made a haunting breeze spin through the Mess Hall and catch the bottom of my knee-high robe. Tossing it up to expose my silk undergarments.

　　Making several of the males groan in appreciation.

　　I screeched and through my skirt down my behind. Holding it over me as I turned to give him an accusing look.

　　"What?" He shrugged. "Drafty in here, isn't it?"