Read Online Queen of the Magnetland (The Elemental Phases Book 5) by Cassandra Gannon - Free Book Online

want that kind of emotion
display.
    She
and Chason didn’t have a “hugging” kind of relationship.
    He
was breathing hard, not from exertion, but like it was taking all his energy
not to spin into another killing rage.  He didn’t even look like her Match,
anymore.  Where was his Magnet House armor?  She’d rarely seen him in anything
else and now he wore a grey uniform she didn’t recognize.
    …And
which was splattered with Zakkery’s blood.
    He
glanced down at her, blinking as if bringing her into focus.  “Are you
alright?”  His voice still didn’t sound like him.  It was hoarser, darker.  Savage.
    The
sound of it did something funny to her insides.  “I’m okay.  He didn’t hurt me.” 
She wanted so badly to lean against him.  “Thank you.  Thank you for coming
back.”
    He
stared at her, purple gaze tracing all over her face with raw, undisguised
longing.  Then, he swore in something like self-disgust and covered both of his
eyes with his hands, pressing the heels of his palms into the sockets.
    “No. 
No.  No.”  He dropped his hands and looked back at Zakkery.  “It won’t work, you
fucking bastard.  You think I’m an idiot?  You’re trying to set me up!  Make me
accept this woman by threatening her safety.”
    “It’s
not a threat.”  Zakkery held a hand to his damaged nose, his stunning face
already swelling.  Even with the Elementals’ capacity for healing this would
take a while to repair.  “I’m serious.  Your woman interests me.  If you leave
her, why shouldn’t I take her for myself?  I think there’s a real spark between
us.”
    “There’s
no spark between anything!   You said you’d help and instead you attacked
me!”
    Zakkery
expelled a humorless sort of chuckle.  “I was testing the waters, is all.  Just
give it a few days and you’ll change your mind.  Once you see I’m your only way
outta here, I’m willing to bet you’ll willingly do just about anything I can
think, Mara.  And I got an open schedule and a dirty mind.” 
    “She’s
not Mara.”
    Mara’s
lips tightened at Chason’s snarled pronouncement.
    “If
you say so.”  Zakkery smirked.  “Doesn’t really matter to me, either way. 
She’s still plenty doable, whatever she calls herself.  I think there’s gonna
be magic between us.”  He arched a brow.  “Weren’t you leaving, Chase?  Don’t
worry.  I like ‘em grateful and rebounding.  I’ll be happy to help her get over
her broken heart.”
    Chason’s
jaw was like a slab of granite.  “This plan won’t work.  This woman is not Mara. ”
    “Yes,
I am .  And you,” Mara turned to glower at Zakkery, again, “you are a
son-of-a-bitch!   I won’t ever sleep with you.  I have a Match!”
    “Well,
newsflash, sweetheart, I don’t think he’s interested, anymore.  You need a new
man to save your pretty little ass from this place.  It’d be easy to convince
me to slip you the key, if you slip me something in return.”
    Chason’s
eyes narrowed.  “I will kill you.”  It was delivered with terrifying calm.  “If
you touch her, again, I will kill you.  She won’t be able to stop me, next
time.”
    “I
thought she wasn’t your Match.”
    “She’s
not.”
    “Then
what the hell do you care who fucks her?”
    “She mine and I’ll… No. ”  Chason gave his head a violent shake, like
he was trying to rattle thoughts loose from inside his skull.  “No.  She’s not . 
I can’t do this.  I can’t…”
    Mara
was terrified he might leave her, again.  “Please, Chason.  Please see that
I’m Mara.”  Her tone grew more desperate at his distrustful scowl.  “For God’s
sake, even if you don’t think I’m your Match, you have to see that I
need help!  You’d never leave an innocent woman trapped in a dungeon.  What’s
wrong with you?”
    Purple
eyes swung back to hers, his whole expression changed, becoming faraway.  “What is wrong with me?  I am…”  He didn’t