The Spellbinding Courtship: Calatini Tales Book 0.5 Page 16

  Selena winced but sighed. "No, we should stay, and he'd quarrel if asked to leave." He'd enjoy the chance to tarnish her reputation. 'Twas the worst he could manage while the Hawkes protected her. Although the duchess would doubtless squash any rumors by the following morning.

  Hawke nodded as the quartet returned.

  Her stomach quivering, she couldn't help slanting glances at Uncle Adan throughout the rest of the performance. Why was he here? He didn't care for music. Back home, he'd never listened to the occasional bard traveling through Upper Ashville, attended musical evenings during house parties, or joined in caroling at Longnight.

  Hawke attempted to whisk her out after the final song, but her uncle waylaid them.

  Uncle Adan smirked at her. "Where's Lord Treyvan, niece?"

  Selena forced a serene smile to disguise her unease. "Meeting with the king, so his younger brother, Lord Beza, offered to escort me instead. Why are you here?"

  Uncle Adan's eyes glinted. "I came to check on you. I told you we weren't finished—you'll earn me a fortune yet."

  She swallowed, a chill dousing her skin. What did he mean by that? And how had he known she'd be here? She hadn't even known she was attending until dinner. Did he have someone spying on her?

  Hawke scowled at Uncle Adan. "You informed the Westons you're Selena's estranged uncle."

  Uncle Adan sneered. "Yes, and because of their missing daughter, they were eager to facilitate a reunion." He smirked at Selena again. "Any suitors yet?"

  She raised her chin with a glittering grin. Only Aragon—maybe. "That's none of your concern, uncle. I'm of age, and you no longer support me."

  Uncle Adan snickered. "So no, then."

  Hawke arched a brow and drawled, "My family shall announce happy tidings soon. You'll read it in the newspaper." With that jab, he swept her outside and into the carriage.

  As the carriage rumbled down the street, Selena stared out the window and fingered the gold gargoyle Aragon had given her to reassure herself. What could Uncle Adan be plotting? She shivered. His smirk had been too gleeful. She must tell Aragon as soon as he returned from the palace.

  Chapter 26

  As Aragon discussed agricultural reports with Devon, he glanced at the clock on the mantel every few minutes, his jaw tensing. What were Selena and Hawke doing now? Despite his repressed love for Wren, Hawke flirted with Selena too much—what would he attempt when they were alone?

  After an hour, Devon waved a hand before Aragon's eyes. "Hello? Has your mind wandered again?"

  Aragon winced and jerked his gaze back to the agricultural reports. "Yes. Sorry for my preoccupation." Damn Hawke for escorting Selena tonight.

  Devon arched his brows. "Did Miss Midor rebuff your attempts to court her?"

  Aragon fought not to blush. Their passionate kisses at today's picnic had been the opposite of rebuffing. His chest tightened. Despite warning himself not to kiss her, he'd almost made love to her and stolen her choice of husband. "No, and she even invited me on a picnic this afternoon."

  Devon tapped a finger against his desk. "Did her other suitors supplant you since?"

  Aragon's chest eased. "Neither Edouard nor Lord Ravenstone have approached in recent days." Goddess knew why.

  Devon frowned. "Then what's vexing you?"

  Aragon tensed and shifted in his seat then admitted, "Hawke is escorting Selena to the Westons' musical evening tonight. Alone." The flirt.

  "Jealous, are you?" Devon chuckled. "Your brother shan't take his flirting too far."

  Aragon grunted and clenched his hands. "I'm not certain of that. His flirting is outrageous whenever he sees her." Although so far, Selena hadn't seemed to enjoy it.

  Devon's eyes gleamed. "Miss Midor is nothing like his ordinary dalliances—she's looking for a husband. No doubt he only flirts with her to torment you."

  Aragon sighed and relaxed his fists. He'd suspected the same. Then his stomach hardened. "But what if Selena begins to take his flirting seriously?"

  Devon leaned back in his seat. "You're fretting over nothing."

  Aragon grimaced and rubbed his brow. "Probably, but I can't seem to help it." Just like he couldn't help kissing her this afternoon, even though he'd known his control was too tenuous to risk it.

  Devon tsked then shook his head. "Shall we return to the agricultural reports? The better you concentrate, the sooner you can check on your Miss Midor."

  Aragon straightened. True, although he must avoid spending time alone with her unless she chose him over her other suitors. His hunger for her was too strong to resist. He nodded and redoubled his focus, and they finished reviewing the reports. He was about to leave when a knock shook the door.

  He and Devon exchanged a narrow glance, then Devon called, "Enter."

  His face flushed, Lord Islaye burst inside the king's study. "Your majesty, Lord Treyvan, I've some disturbing news."

  Devon's brow furrowed as he eyed the count. "What is it?"

  Lord Islaye blurted, "That black witch Lord Treyvan discovered. He escaped."

  Aragon leapt upright as his pulse surged. "What? How?!"

  Lord Islaye shook his head. "The magic marshals aren't certain yet."

  Aragon's fists tightened, but he forced himself to remain still despite his racing pulse. "When did the black witch escape?"

  Lord Islaye grimaced again. "Shortly before midnight last night."

  "What?" Fire flaring through him, Aragon glared at the other councilor. They should have been informed as soon as the black witch escaped. "Why are we only learning of this now?"

  Lord Islaye shifted with a cough. "Because the black witch created a golem to take his place." Made of mud infused with magic, golems could imitate humans or act as warriors, so they were favorite constructs of ambitious witches. "The magical construct fooled his guards until it vanished several hours ago."

  Aragon slammed a hand on Devon's desk, blood rushing in his ears. "Damnation! The black witch could be anywhere." And was probably hunting Selena. She was too tempting a prize for him to forget.

  Lord Islaye looked past Aragon to slant Devon an apologetic grimace. "The magic marshals are hunting the black witch now. They know his magical signature and expect to find him soon."

  Devon inclined his head and rumbled, "Make sure they do. Have the royal witch assist them."

  "I'll visit Lady Juliet's wing next. Thanks, your majesty." Lord Islaye snapped a bow and left.

  Aragon bolted to the door. "I must find Selena at once." His stomach clenched. Please Goddess, let her be safely back home.

  Devon called after him, "Let me know she's safe as soon as you find her."

  Aragon waved an acknowledgment as he rushed from the king's study. Ignoring the eyes following him, he hurtled down to his carriage and ordered his driver to race home. What if Selena wasn't home because the black witch had already found her? Would he be able to rescue her in time?

  As soon as the carriage slowed, he leapt out and bounded up the front steps. When the door swung open, he barked, "Perkins, has Selena returned yet?"

  The butler nodded. "Miss Midor and Lord Beza returned an hour ago. She went up to her chambers, I believe."

  His muscles and stomach easing, Aragon nodded at Perkins in thanks then swept inside. But once he passed the butler, he paused and turned around. "Has Father returned from the Keyes's yet?"

  Perkins arched his brows. "Not yet."

  Aragon quirked a wry smile. Not surprising. His parents often stayed at the Keyes's until well after midnight. But since Father wasn't home, he'd arrange increasing their magical defenses without informing Father first. Unlike before, Selena wasn't hidden from the black witch, and he'd follow if they attempted to hide her elsewhere, so defense was their only option until the black witch was found.

  He leaned toward the butler. "The black witch hunting Selena has escaped. Please alert the other servants to be vigilant. Also, send word to our usual witch to bolster the house wards within the hour. And see if she has peop
le who can guard the townhouse as well. If not, contact Master Marshal Thurston about magic marshals available for private duty."

  Perkins stiffened but nodded. "Yes, my lord."

  Aragon smiled at him. Their longtime butler would ensure everything was handled swiftly. "Thank you, Perkins." He turned and strode upstairs to rap on Selena's door. With their defenses arranged, he must inform her about the black witch.

  Selena flung open her door and dimpled at him. "You're back. At last. I must talk to you about my uncle."

  He frowned as he stepped inside her chambers. Midor was trivial compared to the black witch. And the people watching Midor hadn't sent word of unusual behavior. "Your uncle?"

  Selena pursed her lips and shut the door behind him. "Yes, he wheedled into the Westons' musical evening. And he kept smirking at me—he's plotting something."

  Aragon stiffened then grasped her shoulders and drew her close. "He must have known the black witch escaped late last night." But how had the black witch contacted Midor without alerting the people watching? Aragon must write them at once.

  Selena clenched the gold gargoyle nestled between her breasts, her face turning ashen. "What?"

  His heart squeezed at her distress, but he nodded. "Yes, the black witch created a golem to take his place. The magic marshals are hunting him, and Devon ordered the royal witch to help."

  Selena dropped the gold gargoyle to clutch his waistcoat. "When shall they find him?"

  Aragon managed a soothing smile. "They hope soon." If only he could offer more reassurance.

  Selena shuddered. "I pray to the Goddess they do." She worried her lip. "So what should we do until they capture the black witch?"

  Warmth welling in his chest, he wrapped his arms about her shoulders to comfort her. "You must remain confined here. No more court events." They weren't safe for her with the black witch free.

  Selena sighed as she hugged his waist. "Your mother shan't allow that. She has events chosen for days."

  Aragon snorted and set his jaw. He'd not allow Mother's penchant for social display to endanger Selena. "She shall once she knows about the black witch."

  Selena studied his face with a frown. "Shall avoiding court be enough? The black witch knows where I am now. Uncle Adan would have told him."

  Aragon scowled. Doubtless within moments of the black witch contacting him. Greedy cur. "I arranged to increase our magical defenses, and the protection charm from the royal witch should guard you against the black witch's spells. So if you stay inside the townhouse, he can't touch you."

  Selena shuddered and buried her face in his chest. "I apologize for inspiring such hassle."

  His heart fluttering, Aragon lifted her chin to brush a kiss against her lips. "You're no hassle. We'll keep you safe from the black witch, I swear it."

  Selena's dark-gray eyes shimmered as she kissed him in return. "Thank you, Aragon. You've been a dedicated protector since we met."

  He sighed and forced himself to release her. If only he could hold her forever, but his control wouldn't last much longer. "I'll leave now. Try to get some rest."

  Selena nodded, then he slipped out her door. After writing Devon and the people watching Midor, Aragon paced about his chambers. He must help further the hunt for the black witch. He'd visit Master Marshal Thurston tomorrow straight after breakfast to discover how. Hopefully, the people watching Midor would have written back by then, and they or the magic marshals would have a lead on the black witch.

  He made himself stop pacing and crawled into bed, yet nightmares about the black witch finding Selena permeated his sleep. His eyes burning and body sluggish, he rose shortly after dawn the following morning.

  He'd just finished dressing when someone knocked on his door. He opened it and blinked at Selena. Why was she here so early? "Ready for breakfast?"

  Selena shook her head. "Not yet. Could I come in for a moment?"

  Although he shouldn't allow her inside his chambers, Aragon nodded and stepped back, his heart quickening. He shut the door once she glided inside, so no one would see her. "What did you wish to discuss?"

  Selena drew a deep breath and began pacing before him. "The increased magical defenses and the royal witch's protection charm aren't enough to protect me. The black witch escaped from the custody of countless magic marshals. He'll evade the defenses and protection charm somehow."

  Aragon frowned and captured her elbows to draw her close. "If bolstered house wards, magical guards, and Lady Juliet's powerful spell aren't enough, how else can we protect you?"

  Selena glanced away and licked her lips. "There's another option we didn't discuss yesterday."

  His gaze drawn to her mouth, he swallowed as tingling flooded him. Goddess, even skittish and in peril, she was spellbinding. "What?"

  Selena inhaled another deep breath. "A husband."

  Aragon gripped her elbows. Had she accepted a proposal from Edouard or Lord Ravenstone? Neither deserved her. His stomach burned. They hadn't rescued her from the black witch the first time. And neither had pursued her for days.

  His jaw clenched. Was she accepting simply to escape the black witch? She should only wed a gentleman she loved. Or did she love one of her other suitors?

  His stomach lurched again. If she loved another, how could she have kissed him so passionately yesterday? Passion like that must be genuine. He couldn't lose Selena now. She'd only lived here for a month. And he'd barely courted her to avoid rushing her choice of husband. But now she appeared to have chosen another to escape the black witch. What was he to do?

  Chapter 27

  After declaring she needed a husband, Selena inhaled and eyed Aragon beneath her lashes. If he truly wanted her, surely 'twould inspire him to propose. Then he could make love to her and permanently rescue her from the black witch. And considering their ravenous kisses yesterday, they'd both enjoy it.

  Yet Aragon merely gripped her elbows and stared at her, his eyes narrow and jaw tight.

  She swallowed as her throat clenched. Goddess, he wasn't going to propose. He desired her, just not enough to marry her. But she still needed him to make love to her to escape the black witch. She didn't want anyone else. So how could she persuade him? He had hovered when others courted her, so perhaps jealousy would motivate him. "I need your help convincing one of my suitors to propose—perhaps kissing them would serve. I thought we could practice like we did at yesterday's picnic."

  His nostrils flared, Aragon rasped, "Was that all yesterday was? Practice?"

  Selena lifted her chin and forced a smile despite her aching chest. No, she'd kissed him because she loved him, but his jealousy would vanish if he realized that. "You're not courting me, so what else could it be?"

  Aragon paled and dropped her elbows then stepped back. "I see."

  Her breath froze. She must recapture his waning interest. So she dimpled and smoothed the raspberry gown she'd worn with him in mind. 'Twas the one he'd goggled at when she'd returned from Celeste's. "But practicing is the only way for me to perfect my kissing."

  Aragon stiffened with a grunt. "Your kisses are fine."

  As Selena stepped forward to caress his arm, her stomach fluttered, but she maintained her coy smile. "Fine isn't enough to persuade one of my suitors to propose." Or enough to incite Aragon into making love to her. "I need more practice."

  Aragon's jaw twitched as he removed her hand. "Practice with one of your suitors."

  Her heart squeezed. Only if he was the suitor. She tilted her head and licked her lips. "I can't trust them to not take too many liberties."

  His eyes ebony, Aragon gritted a tight smile. "Are you certain you can trust me?"

  Selena beamed and caressed his arm again. She'd trust him with everything. "Why wouldn't I? You rescued a penniless country miss you just met from a brothel." And she loved him.

  Still eyeing her lips, Aragon jerked back. "Enough of this. I'm too famished to quarrel. I'm going down to breakfast."

  She muffled her sigh then lifted he
r chin. She'd lost for now, but she'd try again after he appeased his hunger. "I'll join you."

  Aragon offered his arm, and they strode downstairs to the breakfast room. They dined in silence until Perkins handed Aragon a note.

  A forkful of eggs halfway to her mouth, Selena stilled when Aragon growled. "What is it?" Bad news about the black witch?

  Aragon grimaced as he crushed the note. "Word from the people watching your uncle. Apparently, a beggar visited your uncle's kitchen yesterday morning, and Midor gave him some food."

  She shuddered and set down her fork. "The black witch, no doubt. Uncle Adan wouldn't involve himself with an ordinary beggar." The miser refused to feed his own servants enough, so he'd never feed a random beggar.

  Aragon nodded. "But since no one realized the black witch had escaped, the people watching Midor disregarded the beggar's visit. And Midor behaved normally the rest of the day, until his watchers lost him at the Westons'. He's not returned to his townhouse since."

  Selena swallowed then forced herself to finish her eggs. "He must be with the black witch. Wherever that is." Goddess, let the magic marshals discover the black witch soon. Who knew what scheme he and Uncle Adan would spawn together? But doubtless something plotting her destruction.

  Before Aragon could reply, his parents swept into the breakfast room.

  As they sat, the duke arched his brows. "Any word on the black witch?"

  Aragon sighed, crumbling his bacon instead of devouring it like normal. "No, although we've just learned Midor has vanished."

  The duchess pursed her lips as she buttered her toast. "That's suspicious."

  Selena grimaced over her tea, bitterness flooding her mouth. As suspicious as the time Uncle Adan had disappeared after Father had said they couldn't afford to hire brownies. Her uncle had returned a week later with a spell to bind them, which wrecked the kitchen when they'd broken the spell and escaped. "Definitely."

  The duchess glanced at Selena. "I'll make your excuses today at the Campbells' garden party then Lady Nolan's ball. But hopefully, the magic marshals shall recapture the black witch by tomorrow. Rumors shall start if you miss too many court events."