Arcana by Leake Jessica

Author:Leake, Jessica [Leake, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9781940456140
Publisher: Talos
Published: 2014-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

THE next morning, I am so lost in the recesses of my own mind I can scarcely carry on an intelligent conversation. On the one hand, Lord Blackburn’s attack causes me to jump at every noise. Every time I think of his hands and mouth on me, my stomach threatens to empty itself. I want to believe Lord Thornewood’s threats will keep him at bay, but I cannot be sure. Especially since he has tasted my power. A shudder racks my body, and I rub my arms.

In the end, I always return to the same question: what am I to do? How can I guarantee he will never violate me in such a way again? Though my mother was the one with the gift of prophecy, I can still say with relative certainty he will not give up so easily.

But then my mind turns to thoughts of Lord Thornewood. Where before thoughts of him were intrusive, I find these thoughts very welcome indeed. I blush. Am I so brazen, then? That a shared kiss with a gentleman changes my opinion of him? But no, I know it isn’t the only thing. I think of the times he stood up for me against Eliza—even when I didn’t realize he was doing so.

I can’t stop touching my lips, and my cheeks seem to have a permanent blush as I remember how close we were. I could feel every inch of his body—a body that was much more muscular and hard than one would expect of an aristocrat.

Of course I cannot simply bury what happened with Lord Blackburn—much as I’d like to. Perhaps I should send for Robert? But no, I wouldn’t want to keep him from his studies. And I refuse to send a letter to my father begging him to let me come home; I’ve surprised myself in realizing I’m not ready to give up on London just yet, especially with Lord Thornewood and my relationship becoming so much more . . . intimate.

Intimate, and yet, he does not know the truth about me. Would he be so interested if he knew I was only half human? That Lord Blackburn had attacked me as much for my body as for my power?

I glance at the clock on the mantle. Another hour until I am to meet him in Hyde Park. I pick up my mother’s journal, almost too afraid to see what other warnings it may reveal. I open the book and watch as words appear on the creamy pages.

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