My blood ran cold, and I stared at him in silence, even as he went on.
“If you’re afraid your magic will be a problem when we marry, you don’t need to worry. I know you’re thinking of me and the pressures upon me to be a good mayor, but you need not worry about inconveniencing me, you’re more precious to me than my position—”
I shook my head involuntarily, clapping my hand over my mouth to keep in the snort that wanted to escape. The man was delusional.
Voren, however, took it as a sign that I was overcome with happiness.
“It’s true, I don’t care about anything else—”
I had to cut him off. “Voren, I can’t marry you. It wouldn’t be right.”
Voren's smile dimmed, and his grip around my shoulder tightened, making me wince.
“Because you’ve been living among us as a secret witch, you mean?”
“What—”
“But I know you had no choice.” Voren said, smiling at me, even as my heart pounded. “You didn’twantto lie to us all, but it was the only way for you to stay with me. If you had revealed your powers, you would have been forced to leave Vilusia.” He nodded, as if pleased with his conclusion. “I was very impressed. Besides, it’s not like your magic hasn’t helped us all. You saved the Narr babe with your powers, Seranni.” He looked down at the herbs I was crushing in my hand. “Are these for another potion?”
I seized the excuse I had just been handed. “Yes,” I said. “And I must go home to check on it. Thank you, Voren, I have all the herbs I need,” I said, patting the pockets of my cloak. “Now it’s time for us to return home.”
Would it be enough? I took a step, but Voren caught my wrist and I stumbled, coming to an inelegant stop before him.
“Marry me, Seranni. I could make you very happy. Just say yes.”
I shook my head, fear touching me for the first time in the conversation. He was being so persistent, as if he had heard nothing I had said. In the moonlight, Voren’s eyes glittered withmadness.
I had to distract him. Placate him, until I could escape back to town, where I could put a locked door between us.
“I... I need some time to think, Voren," I said, my voice barely above a shaky whisper. "I can’t give you an answer right now, not when I'm so confused and unsure of what I want.”
“Seranni—”
Forcing a smile, I cut him off, despite the sickening feeling of dread that gnawed at my insides. “I appreciate your understanding, Voren,” I said, stopping my voice from shaking. “But I’m afraid I must be getting home now, I’m feeling very sleepy,” I blustered, faking a yawn and freeing my hand from his grasp.
I stepped away, and had gone only a few paces when Voren spun me around with one hand on my shoulder.
“Voren—”
“Is that all you have to say to me?” he demanded.
Fear sank its claws into me, threatening to consume me whole as I turned to face him, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Please let me go, Voren,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Voren scowled, his eyes flashing with a fury that made me flinch instinctively. “You ungrateful bitch!” he spat, his words dripping with sudden venom. “Any woman would be falling all over herself to bag me, and you dare to reject me?”
My anger surged, the fire burning away my fear as I met his gaze with a steely resolve. “Then go marry one ofthem,” I said defiantly, tearing my hand from his grasp. “And leave me alone!”
Voren’s face contorted with fury, his hands balling into fists at his sides as he took a step toward me, his eyes burning with a dangerous light.
I turned and ran, my heart pounding in my chest as I fled into the safety of the woods, the sound of Voren’s angry shouts echoing in my ears as he gave chase. I ducked under branches and hid behind a the trunk of a huge tree, clamping my hands closed over my mouth, hoping to calm the sound of my panicked breathing. I peeked around the tree and nearly gasped.
Voren was rightthere.
“You'll regret this, Seranni,” he snarled, his voice low and menacing. “I'll make sure of it.”
When he moved deeper into the forest, I scrambled away, in the opposite direction.
