Read Online UNDER HIS SPELL by Rachel Carrington - Free Book Online Page B

to consume her.   She stood on tiptoe and fell into the kiss,
her arms gliding up around his neck.   She
whispered his name and felt his breath slough against her face as he lifted his
head briefly.   They locked gazes, staring
into one another’s eyes, before diving back into the kiss.
    Rane cupped her bottom and lifted her even higher and–
    Light.   Bright, glaring light
interrupted their heated moment and though Rane kept his arms around her, he
lifted his head, giving her a regretful look.   “I suppose we’ll have to continue this later.”
    Skye didn’t know what to say.   Instead, she turned her head and stared.   “Oh My God.”
    Skye had read Thumbelina and had even imagined she was that little
in her dreams, but never had she ever expected to meet the tiny figments of her
imagination.   Pulling herself free from
Rane’s arms, she crept closer.  
    The man Skye assumed was the leader held a minuscule version of a
radar gun high up in the air.   She tried
not to laugh.   “What is he doing, Rane?”
    Rane knelt down in front of the dais where the tiny people had
gathered.   “Protecting his people.”
    “With that?”   Skye pointed in
spite of herself.
    “Don’t discredit that.   He has
the power of the wizards behind him.”
    Skye took a step backwards.   “Oh.   Who are they?”
    Rane stood.   “They are from a
distinct group of people called the Well-Wishers.   In ancient times, seeing one of these people
meant you would be blessed with good fortune for the rest of your life.”
    Skye hooked her arm through his.   “So why are they here now?”
    “Because mortals imprisoned the Well-Wishers for profit, showcasing
them in circuses and fairs until the people were almost extinct.   My sister-in-law found them not long after
she married my brother, Jaxon.   She
demanded he offer protection to these people and here they are.”
    “You know, not all mortals would wish harm to these little guys.”
    Rane’s hand dropped to his side and with it, Skye’s arm.   “We should go back.”
    “Can we not speak to them?”
    At her words, the Well-Wishers began to shout and pummel the air
with their fists.
    Rane shook his head.   “They do
not trust mortals.   They will not talk
with you.”   He began to lead her back
toward the entrance of the cave.
    “If you knew that, why did you bring me here?”
    Rane waited until they were outside of the cave before he spoke
again.   “Because you cannot avoid
unpleasant things in life, Skye.”
    Skye got the distinct impression the wizard was trying to tell her
something.   “Why don’t you just spit it
out, Rane, and stop beating around the bush?”

“Why did you not stop me from kissing you inside the cave?”
    The question took her aback.   “Because I didn’t want to.”
    “Am I not the enemy?”
    Skye walked ahead of him.   “I’d rather not talk about this now.”
    “As I said, you cannot avoid the unpleasant things.”
    Skye continued walking.   “Maybe not, but I can try.”   She
approached a gurgling stream and just as she raised her leg to cross it, the
ground opened, splitting wide.   The
centrifugal force snatched her, dragging her beneath the surface.   Skye opened her mouth to scream, but no sound
would come.
    The chasm closed.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Rane didn’t think twice about his next move.   He clapped his hands, opened his palms and
split the ground.   Then he dove after
Skye.   He caught her mid-air, his hand
capturing her wrist.   In a matter of
seconds, it was over and Skye stood on the ground next to him, breathing deep
gulps of air, her face as pale as a freshly bleached sheet.
    She fell to her knees, shaking.   “What was that?   I’ve never
experienced anything like that in all my life.   It wasn’t an earthquake because we would have felt the tremors.   No, this was definitely something out of the
ordinary.   Or maybe it isn’t.   Was this another one of your surprises you
chose not