Page 58 of Air of Seduction
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Markus
Pain is everywhere, so debilitating my vision becomes blurry. It’s like a thousand knives stabbing into every part of me, robbing me of my ability to think and breathe.
But as far as I can tell, there’s no one apart from my team and Gawen in the room, and there are no physical knives cutting into my body.
Someone hooks their hands under my arms and starts dragging me across the floor, but I can’t tell who’s moving me or where we’re going.
As fast as it hit, the pain is gone, but my body still feels weak, like I’ve just fought an army on my own. I peel my eyes open as sweet air fills my lungs.
“Markus.” Aidan’s voice sounds from right next to me, but the one leaning over me and looking at me with fear darkening her beautiful green eyes is Lynette.
“Lynette,” I croak, my voice rough like I haven’t used it for days.
“I’m here.” She puts her hand on my chest. “What happened? Why did you collapse?”
The warmth from her hand spreads through me and helps clear my mind. “So much pain. It was…everywhere.”
“Yes, pain.” Gawen’s voice sounds from nearby. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“I didn’t feel anything.” There’s a deep crease between Aidan’s brows when I turn my head to look at him. “It only affected the two of you.”
I take in my surroundings and recognize the short corridor outside the room with the altar. “It must be something in that room that affected us. Some kind of magic perhaps?”
“That’s possible,” Gawen answers. “But I’m curious as to why it only affected us. The only common denominator that I know of between us is our father.”
Putting my hand over Lynette’s to keep it on my chest, I push up into a sitting position. She doesn’t pull her hand away, but there’s apprehension in her eyes. Which I totally understand after what I did to her only minutes ago.
I give her a quick smile and force myself to let go of her hand. She immediately pulls it away, and the moment her touch disappears, it’s like the temperature in the room drops by twenty degrees.
Focusing my attention on my brother, I get to my feet. “I want to enter the room again to see if the same thing happens.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Gawen rises in front of me.
“No. And that’s why I want you to stay here. Aidan or Ronan can help me if I collapse again.” Or Lynette. But I purposely don’t mention her name. I don’t want her in that room again before I know what happened to Gawen and me.
“I don’t like it.” Aidan shakes his head. “I’ve never seen you drop like that.”
He’s right. I’ve been hurt in battle plenty of times, but no one has ever rendered me so completely useless. I’m too fast and strong for that, and I heal too quickly. “I need to know what caused it. It’s the only way to ensure it can’t happen again.”
“Fine.” Aidan sighs. “But let me go in first and wait for you there. Ronan can stay by the door and keep an eye on us.”
Ronan nods. “And move slowly. That way the effect might come on gradually.”
“Good point.” I nod.
After Aidan and Ronan take up their positions as agreed, I move one foot across the threshold.
Something brushes over my skin. It doesn’t hurt, but there’s a sense of fear and anguish seeming to swirl in the air around me.
I take another half step forward, and the fear and anguish suddenly cling to my skin and sink into my pores. There’s still no real pain, but the cloying feeling makes my skin itch.
Closing my eyes, I focus on what I’m feeling. I’ve never felt anything like it before, but there’s something strangely familiar about the person behind the emotions sinking into my skin.
My eyes fly open, the realization of what’s happening suddenly so clear. “He was here.” I turn around, meetingGawen’s gaze. “Our brother. He was here. It’s his pain. They tortured him in this very room.”
Gawen pales, and his whole body goes rigid. “Fuck.”