A Girl in Black and White (Alyria Book 2)

by Danielle Lori

  “Fine,” I sighed. “I shall do it tomorrow at the gathering.”

  Without even a ‘Thanks,’ she was out the door.

  I lay in bed for a long time after that, turmoil sitting on my chest, my breaths short. I didn’t know what Weston was planning to do, and if it would change now that I’d pushed him over the edge. All I knew was that he did not come. Not that night. And not when the morning sun shined through my window.

  It was Sunday, it was noon, and I was just leaving mass. I thought it might have been a different experience now that I was older, more mature, not as ridiculous. But alas, I hadn’t reached that wizened age yet, because I’d only entertained myself by counting down the minutes. With all the uncertainty in my life, I just wanted to be normal for a moment. And I might have gone so that when my grandmother asked if I’d been attending mass, I could tell her yes without feeling like a liar.

  The sun beat down on me as I strolled from the chapel to my mother’s. I was going to hound her about where my grandmother was. I’d known she knew her exact location, but neither would tell me, in case I would leave Symbia to go to her. And I would, as soon as I looked into that well, because sometimes you just needed your grandmother, like after pushing a prince to lose his sanity.

  Frustration pressed on my chest about the Shadows, the Sisterhood, and my upcoming pledging. I just wanted my grandmother to tell me what to do; though, she’d have to admit the truth of my cuffs before all that.

  It was as I kicked a rock, taking a shortcut through the alleyways, that I’d run into the very last person I wanted to see.

  “Calamity, what a surprise seeing you here.”

  I stopped short, coasting my gaze across the large corridor with a well, woven baskets, and laundry lines—letting Alis know that I found his presence here contrived.

  “A word with you, if you don’t mind.”

  I sighed.

  A couple of women dunked shirts in some water before scrubbing it on a washboard, their mundane chore becoming interesting as the city’s golden boy stood in their dirt alley. My gaze narrowed further when three of Alis’ friends stepped into view, as if this had been rehearsed—well, at the least, it had been thought out.

  This wasn’t a happy run-in. It was a staged ambush.

  I couldn’t protect myself against four Druids. They knew how to withstand compulsion, and it would take too much time to try and persuade them all. There was also no burning in my palms at the moment, which meant I couldn’t fast-travel myself out of this mess.

  A sense of vulnerability rushed me. I didn’t think Alis would hurt me, but the fact that he set this up to intimidate me, which I would have never thought he would do, already let me know I’d underestimated him.

  “Alis,” I said cheerfully. “What a surprise, indeed. But I’m a little busy right now. Can we speak later?”

  His eyes narrowed suspiciously at my behavior. He’d never seen me this nice before and didn’t know how to take it. He shook his head regretfully. “Sorry, but this cannot wait.”

  Lovely. Unease worried itself into my brain.

  “I’ve given you many opportunities to accept my offer to pledge with you, and still you refuse. Well, it is no longer an option.”

  Anger uncurled in my stomach, expanding. “That’s great, Alis. I’ve heard that my mother accepts your suit, so I don’t understand what this is all about.” I glanced meaningfully at his three friends standing stoically nearby.

  He raised a brow. “And you accept?”

  Hell no—but I hesitated. Currently magically inept, and surrounded by four determined sons of bitches . . . “Yes, of course. I wouldn’t go against my mother’s wishes.”

  His eyes hardened. “You think me stupid.”

  “That’s not true.” Yes, yes it was.

  His gaze shot to the women watching the scene as if they were memorizing every word. This is going to be in the gossip rags tomorrow, I thought with a sigh. “Go,” he said harshly. The women’s eyes widened before dropping their clothes and rushing from the alley. I thought about running out with them, but I knew that would get me about four feet because Alis could fast-travel; that, and he had the ability to cause severe pain that completely immobilized his opponent. His gifts must have been what made him so popular with his cronies here.

  His eyes came back to me, before glancing at one of the men behind him who looked a few years older than me, with dark hair and an indifferent expression.

  Alis nodded his head in my direction. “Raymond, let’s see if she’s lying, shall we?”

  Shit. Worry needled its way into my chest, my heartbeat picking up pace.

  I was sure that you weren’t supposed to let yourself get into this position: four men surrounding you in each direction. But screaming wasn’t an option for me. I was not that farm girl anymore, and I wouldn’t act like her unless death was on the line. Being that Alis’ goal was to pledge with me, I knew that wasn’t what he had planned. I would just have to think my way out of this situation.

  Raymond stood in front of me, his callous gaze looking me straight in the eyes, and I noticed that something was missing from it: sympathy. I’d thought Weston losing his humanity would be a tragedy for anyone, but I realized then, that many gave it away for nothing.

  Alis stood back, leaning against the wall indifferently while chewing on a piece of straw. “Are you lying to me about accepting my suit, Calamity?”

  Raymond was watching for my reply, able to see the truth in one’s eyes. I bit my lip, uncertain. But I knew there was no point in lying. So, I looked Raymond steadily in the eye, and said, “Yes.”

  He blinked, not expecting that response.

  Alis didn’t flinch, though, somehow having learned me better than I had him in the six months I’d been here.

  “Truth,” Raymond supplied, and the two other men circling me guffawed at my blatant disrespect.

  Alis rubbed his jaw, frustration only seen in his tense movements. “I’ve been trying to go about this the right way, Calamity. I do not understand why you have to make it difficult.”

  I couldn’t help it—I laughed. Because what a piece of work.

  Raymond flicked his gaze to Alis in question, receiving a short nod in return. I should have seen it coming, but I still vastly underestimated the potted plant: I was backhanded across the face.

  A sharp sting erupted across my cheek, and a couple drops of warm blood trickled down my face from where his large ring split my skin. I caught the blood with the back of my hand before any could drip to the ground below.

  I could get myself out of this mess; I couldn’t fight being possessed by the Shadows again so soon. That frightened me more than Alis and his friends did.

  “What’s wrong with your blood?” Alis asked in disgust, noticing the black color.

  I lifted a shoulder. “Been dabbling in black magic.”

  His expression grew intrigued at that, but he didn’t ask any more questions about it. “I will not hit my future pledged. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have someone do it for me.”

  I wanted to laugh once more. It was an itch I desperately wanted to scratch. But I really didn’t want to be hit again; that had really hurt, so I only dryly replied, “How courteous of you.”

  The man behind me scoffed. “I do not know why you want this woman, Alis. I can think of one good use for her, but she will drive you mad before you can get there.”

  Alis shot him a look. “Don’t speak of her that way.”

  My Prince Charming . . .

  The man put his hands up, taking a step back behind me.

  “I wish I could get your acceptance of free will so that we could go into our pledging with a clean slate, but if I have to force you to swear your agreeance to me then so be it.”

  “I hope you have a lot of time, then.”

  He raised a brow.

  “Because you’ll be here forever. I won’t do it.”

  He closed his eyes with a sigh, then waved his hand toward Raym
ond, who backhanded me once again. The sting spread across my face like little needles, the scratch in my cheek splitting further open.

  I turned my head back around slowly, hate seeping into my chest with each heartbeat, and pinned my hard gaze on Alis. “If you wish to be a successful villain, there is something that you should know.”

  He raised an intrigued brow, that stupid piece of straw still bit between his teeth.

  “Make sure there aren’t any more corrupt ones in the vicinity. It’s the number one rule.”

  “I thought that was being mad,” Weston returned, walking into the area like he washed laundry here daily.

  “I suppose you’re right.” I lifted an indifferent shoulder. “It’s worked for you.”

  All of the men froze as if there was a sudden chill that blew in, watching the Titan Prince with stunned uncertainty. Stunned at what I said, even more stunned that Weston only glanced at me with amusement.

  Alis’ posture stiffened, the straw dropping from his mouth, while looking from me to the Titan. Confusion waged in his eyes. All I felt was a sweet relief because as much as I wished otherwise, I hadn’t quite thought of an idea to get out of this mess . . .

  To my surprise, Weston looked . . . sane, as if he’d gotten ahold of the madness between now and last night. Involuntarily, the weight on my chest drifted away. “Don’t you look well this afternoon! I thought for sure you’d taken ill after yesterday. Your appearance was . . . quite worrisome.”

  Weston chewed on his cheek thoughtfully, holding back a smile. “I’m feeling much better today. Thank you.” His eyes wandered down to the cut on my cheek, his gaze darkening as he rubbed a thumb across his bottom lip—a behavior I’d thought was to keep his hands busy. But I vaguely noticed his reaction, because I was still trying to process Weston saying the words ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Pardon me’ and now ‘Thank you’—who was this man?

  The air was tense, quiet, filled with the questions of how this was going to play out, and why a person of Weston’s status would know me at all.

  “I don’t think we’ve been introduced, milord,” Alis said to Weston.

  “Don’t believe so,” Weston replied, but he didn’t make the slightest movement to introduce himself, only swept his gaze around the area. He nodded his head in my direction. “What did she do? Talk back?”

  The tension in the air relaxed as if the men had found something in common with the Prince: disliking disrespectful women.

  Alis finally answered, “Audacity, milord. She has it in spades.”

  Weston’s gaze flicked to me in amusement as he walked the perimeter. “Does she? And who are you to her?”

  “Her future pledged,” Alis said with conviction.

  I shot him a look of annoyance.

  Weston didn’t miss a stride; his expression darkened around the edges, but his words were light. “My condolences.”

  I rolled my eyes. Cute.

  The men laughed at that. They thought they were getting chummy with the Prince.

  But I knew Weston better than that.

  “Who touched her?” The question was indifferent, but the insinuation filled the easy air with heavy expectation. They each stilled, uncertain of what they should do. Alis eyed the scene as if trying to figure out the reason for Weston’s involvement and what I could mean to him.

  Weston came up behind one of the men whose eyes were wildly fixed on Alis for direction.

  “Him?” Weston asked me.

  I paused for a moment but then shook my head, the man looking visibly relieved.

  Weston watched me, licked his lips thoughtfully, and then snapped the man’s neck in one smooth move. He dropped to his knees before falling to the dirt.

  The men each took a step back, their wide gazes focused on their dead friend. “She said he didn’t do it!” Raymond rushed out.

  “Association,” Weston replied blandly.

  Alis took a step toward me, his eyes full of anger and questions. I meaningfully wiped some blood off my cheek with the back of my hand, while offering, “Jealous streak.”

  “Him?” Weston asked without looking at me, his attention on the man who ‘knew one thing I was good for.’

  I shook my head. But I didn’t know why I even did, because a sickening crack and then the sound of a lifeless body falling to the dirt still hit my ears.

  Anger contorted Alis’ face as he stood his ground, hesitantly looking determined not to give up. He was the only one with the ability to protect himself magically. Raymond, though seemingly only a truth-teller, turned to run but didn’t get very far without Weston fast-traveling in front of him and snapping his neck.

  Silence filled the area, but there was a ringing in my ears from the carnage on the ground. You’d think I’d grow used to dead men surrounding me whenever Weston was near, but I just couldn’t. And it was at that moment, that I realized he wasn’t an ordinary man to have fanciful thoughts about. This, killing like this, was not something you could just walk away from. He was not a blacksmith, and he never would be. That every time I had let him touch me, he spread blood across my body.

  Weston’s gaze focused on an enraged Alis. “Maybe you haven’t realized I’m not your average Titan?” he said, taking short steps toward him. “Your mind tricks don’t work on me.”

  A vein stood out in Alis’ forehead. “She is a witch. One manipulative witch. Trust me, you aren’t the only one she’s fucking.”

  I closed my eyes for a moment at Alis’ stupidity, but then realized that was a horrible idea, and quickly blinked them back open—at just the right time.

  I practically threw myself in between them, putting a hand on Weston’s chest, pushing against him. He didn’t look down on me, a muscle in his jaw ticking.

  “Wait,” I rushed out. “Just wait.”

  Alis sneered. “I don’t need your help.”

  “Stop being an idiot,” I snapped at him.

  My mind spun. I thought of my mother, that even though she’d sell me out to this bastard, I didn’t think I had the heart to let something happen to her stepson. Alis was her family, and unfortunately mine in return; idiotic and psychotic family, but family all the same.

  A calm settled over me when I thought of the perfect solution. Meeting Alis’ eyes, I laid out his future: “You’re going to offer for Juliana. You’re going to love her and make her the happiest woman in the world. You’ll never stray, and you’ll live life as dutifully as a law-abiding citizen.”

  Disgust pulled on Alis’ lips.

  I knew that my persuasion wouldn’t last on Alis, if it hadn’t even worked well on Archer. And I knew I couldn’t get in with compulsion—it took a long time to master that, and I’d only started months ago. But I knew who could do it. And with a glance at him, he didn’t look so happy about what I wanted.

  However, with some aversion, Weston compel—no, he hit Alis, right over my head. I heard the crunch of bone, nose, jaw, I wasn’t sure which. Alis reared back, holding his face, blood dripping steadily to the ground.

  I wanted to feel displeasure about it all, but the bastard deserved it. He dropped to his knees, moaning something unintelligible. He would have to see a healer about all that.

  Weston compelled Alis, distaste lacing every word, his expression telling me he’d rather kill him. Mine said, ‘Too bad. We don’t all get what we want.’

  If Alis didn’t have a strong enough mind to handle the long-term compulsion, then that was his problem. At least I tried. While Weston finished up compelling him, I turned around, stepped over lifeless limbs like puddles, and walked down the alley toward my mother’s house.

  “Always saving you, aren’t I?”

  I frowned but kept walking from him. It was fruitless, because, in less than a second, he spun me around, backed me up slowly until my back hit the wall, and then ran his thumb down my cheek. My skin burned at the contact, my legs tingling where they touched his.

  “Look. At. That.” He whistled at the smooth skin
of my cheek where minutes ago there’d been a cut. He braced his hands on the wall on either side of me.

  A sudden shyness ran through me, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. I didn’t know where we stood and what he would do next. “Are you . . . sane?” I asked hesitantly.

  A smile pulled at his lips as he glanced down the alleyway before a small laugh escaped him. He shook his head, drawing his gaze back to me. “Do I look sane?”

  My eyes narrowed. “No. You’ve always been mad.”

  “If I had finally lost it, you would know,” he told me, his gaze darkening. “I wouldn’t be standing here alone with you, chatting.”

  “And what would you be doing?”

  He leaned in so close, his lips brushed my neck. “Why do you ask questions you already know the answers to?”

  His low, rough voice sent goose bumps down my arms, my breath catching. How does he do this to me? I pushed the breathless feeling away as best as I could.

  “Well, that’s a pipe dream, really,” I told him as he pulled back to look at me. “Because you could never catch me.”

  He licked his lips, dark amusement pulling at the corners. “Oh, I’d catch you, Princess. If you even ran.”

  My stomach fluttered, warmth pooling between my legs, but I couldn’t stop being annoyed at his insinuation—regardless if it were true. And it wasn’t.

  “Weston,” I looked meaningfully at his hands braced on either side of me, “we’re coexisting a little too closely, don’t you think?”

  His eyes narrowed.

  “I want to share Symbia with you as much as you do me, but if you keep stopping me on the streets, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  “I’m pretty sure—correct me if I’m mistaken—that I just saved your sorry life.”

  I scoffed. “Alis wouldn’t have killed me. He wanted to marry me, that’s all. You know, the way I’m sure you’ll have to do it to get any woman to marry you.”

  “Why didn’t you fast-travel?”

  I blinked at his sudden change of topic, but then only lifted a shoulder. I wasn’t going to tell him that part of my magic was faulty and that everyone knew it.