Free Captured by the Dark Lord by Jaide Fox Page A

to her mouth
as the bird crashed to the ground in a broken heap.  She ran to where it had
fallen.  An unbearable sadness crushed her heart, that even so small a thing
could not survive in this place.  She knelt on the ground and touched its soft
feathers.
     
    Her fingertips shimmered, and
she looked at them in surprise.  She gently scooped the bird into her hands,
and they glowed brighter.  The crimson light enveloped the bird.  Its soul had
not fled the body yet--she could give it life once more.  She knew she could.
     
    Slowly, carefully, she
massaged its chest with her thumbs, infusing it with the power.  Mere seconds
passed, but to her, it seemed an eternity until the bird’s chest rose and its
golden eyes blinked up at her.  She released it and it flapped its wings,
flying away.
     
    Bianca gave a watery laugh,
wiping her eyes.  She’d not lost her power, as she’d secretly feared.
     
    “You would do for that bird,
what you will not do for me?”
     
    His deep, accusatory tone cut
to the quick of her soul.  “Yes, I have,” she said softly, rising from her
position.  She slowly faced him, banishing the sorrow she knew darkened her
eyes.  “There is nothing more I can do for you.”
     
    “Nothing more you are willing
to do.”
     
    He began walking away, down
the drive.  She debated not following him, but she had to make herself clear to
him.
     
     “You can take my meaning as
you will, my lord,” she said, walking beside him.
     
    He glanced at her briefly,
continuing his stride.  “So we are back to formalities.”
     
    “It helps me to keep an ...
emotional distance.”  The gates loomed ahead.  Why had he led her here?  Merely
to tease her yet again?  She turned to go back, and he caught her arm.
     
    “So you feel nothing for me?”
     
    Bianca faltered, her
confidence wavering.  Did she?  How could she feel anything beyond hate for
him?  Did he want her love?  It wasn’t possible, not in so short a time.  And
yet each minute seemed an eternity with him, not with the dullness of passing
time, but with a rushing sensation of pleasure.  His presence intoxicated her,
yes.  His touch made her weak.
     
    An addiction wasn’t love, and
she should have never allowed herself to dwell on such feelings.  He would
always be a death knight.  Black deeds cursed him.  Nothing she could do would
change that.  That she wanted to save him from his own accursed eternity was a
testament to her silliness in thinking she could save the world—and him.
     
    Swallowing hard, she summoned
her voice and said, “No, I feel nothing.”
     
    Expression vanished from his
face as if he were made of stone.  The light in his eyes, the amusement she’d
given him over the weeks had faded.  She didn’t know when it had happened, but
she knew it would never return.  A sick hopelessness assailed her, turning to
despair.  She’d hurt him with her admission.
     
    She caught movement out of
the corner of her eye and turned her head to it.  The gates slowly opened of
their own accord.  “What are you--”
     
    “Shhhh,” he soothed, and
cupped her chin, tilting her face up.  She closed her eyes, parting her mouth,
slightly breathless.  Had he forgiven her?
     
    He stroked a finger along her
jaw and pressed his cool lips to her eyelids before whispering, “Go, Bianca. 
Remember this only as a dream ... or a nightmare, as you choose it.”
     
    “What did you say?” she
asked, sighing.
     
    He pulled away from her, and
she opened her eyes to find him gone.  A cold breeze slid across her skin, and
she shivered, turning to look at her freedom.  The gates still stood open,
awaiting her departure.  She’d been right.  There was nothing for her here, no
hope.
     
    Bianca walked to the entrance
and passed through the gates, out into the beyond and out of his life. 
Forever.
     
    * * * *
     
    The patrol guard found her on
the overgrown road, freezing and exhausted.  She collapsed as they