Read Online Dark Matter by Christie Rich - Free Book Online Page B

around Finn. “Why
not?”
    “ You stay out of this,” Jett
said. The look he gave me nearly took me to my knees.
    I wasn’t about to let him intimidate me
any longer. Since they were throwing the term out there, I took my
shot with it as well. “I have a right to know,” I said
firmly.
    Jett shook his head. “You have no
rights in this place. The sooner you accept that, the easier your
life will be.”
    Finn’s eyes grew wide and then narrowed
at me as if he just realized Jett’s statement was true. He turned
toward Cassie. “Get Rayla upstairs while I deal with
this.”
    Jett took a step toward us. “I have not
traveled all this way to allow you to take her from me.”
    Cassie seemed unsure what to do, but
she pulled lightly on my arm. “Come on. Let’s go.”
    We started toward the door, but Jett
blocked our path moments before we entered the great hall. He
shoved Cassie aside then clamped his arms around me. His voice came
out gravelly. “I think I will just leave with what I came for if it
is all the same to you.” He backed away from Finn, scanning the
area for other threats.
    This couldn’t be happening. I could
barely breathe, but I was able to twist my head around enough to
see Heath standing in the doorway. His face was contorted with such
emotion he looked as if he could call down the wrath of God, but he
didn’t move. “Don’t let him take me,” I managed to get out,
although it was barely audible. I tried to call the elements to aid
me but for whatever reason they wouldn’t come.
    Heath seemed to awaken from a deep
sleep and rushed toward us with Finn and five other men on his
heels. I thought one of them was going to tackle Jett with me in
his arms, but they just circled us. Finn’s palm glowed bright red
and a wall of fire surrounded me and Jett. The heat of it made me
gasp for air.
    Jett turned me in his arms and buried
my face protectively against his chest. Even though I was terrified
of him I could have easily stayed in his arms forever. Whatever he
had done to me had made a lasting impression.
    I heard a rumble and coughed as smoke
threatened my lungs. When I looked up, a perfect dome of dirt
encased us. Intense pounding sounded through the barrier. Jett
looked down at me. His eyes were a bit sad but still determined. “I
am sorry about earlier, Rayla. I had not meant to get that carried
away. You are so like her, and yet, not like her at all. Even
though you probably won’t believe me, I fully understand that you
are not your mother…” He didn’t say that he wished I was even
though he might as well have. His longing for her was still clear
in his eyes. He took my shoulders between his hands. “Your life
with me would be enjoyable. I am not the monster you have imagined
me to be. Perhaps I should have lied to you about my reasons for
wanting you, but I believe in being upfront with my motives. Even
though I can’t say I love you at this moment, I now know I
could.”
    Someone’s fist broke through the dome
and the whole thing cracked like a splintered eggshell. It was only
a matter of moments before the dome would come crashing down around
us. I had to stall. I couldn’t allow Jett to take me. I couldn’t
live with him for hundreds of years knowing he would always imagine
I was my mother. Fear and hurt tightened my throat. I couldn’t
speak.
    Was it possible my mother loved this
man? Was there a redeeming part of him I couldn’t see? I stared at
him searching for answers I would never find in the depths of his
eyes.
    He touched my cheek. “I must go, but
make no mistake, I will return for you. You are hers, and,
therefore, you are mine.” In a flash of green light, he was
gone.
    The barrier shattered the moment he
disappeared, filling my senses with his scent. Dirt rained down on
me, covering my hair and my dress.
    I was shaking so uncontrollably that I
didn’t care who lifted me into his arms. It was only later I
realized that Heath was the one carrying me back to my