Taken

Chapter 18 (Part 1)

Heat seared across the back of my scalp as my eyes snapped open. I blinked hard a few times, trying to focus my blurred vision. A pounding ache at my temple made it difficult, but as it faded, the feeling that the world around me was tilting faded with it until I no longer felt my body keeling to the side.

"I knew you were fucking trouble."

I flinched at the cold voice, dislodging the hand that had been pressed to the back of my head and the one holding my shoulder. The heat on my scalp faded as my eyes locked on the milky crystal that swayed in front of the bare chest before me, taunting me. A smattering of hair stood out against the pale skin I had been trying so hard to ignore moments ago. Before I had been thrown into a wall with enough force to knock me unconscious for who knew how long. Long enough for him to heal a possible concussion and the goose egg that would have otherwise been throbbing at the back of my head.

"But, I didn't comprehend how ungrateful and stupid you would be," Rowan continued, his eyes narrowing. They dropped to my throat when I swallowed, fear drying my mouth.

Crouched on the balls of his feet, he filled my vision and blocked out the room behind him. His hands hung between his thighs, his posture languid as he boxed me in against the wall. His expression, like it had been in the alley, was impassive. I couldn't tell what was going on in his head. The only indicator of his annoyance was the way his eyes were narrowed, but even that was slight. The way he watched me was cold and unnerving. Uncaring.

When he lifted his hand, reaching for my neck, my eyes widened in panic. I tried scrambling back but had nowhere to go. My back was flush with the wall which had me crumbling to the floor. All I could do was slam my eyes shut to block out the sight of his nearing hand while preparing for his touch.

But it never came.

Instead of feeling the brand of his flesh as he wrapped his fingers around my neck and squeezed, he gripped the collar of my jacket in his fist to roughly lift me to my feet. My palms slapped against the wall to aid my ungraceful rise before rising to grip his forearm.

"I gave you the chance to walk away and you break into my room to throw it in my face." He frowned admonishingly. He tightened his grip and pulled me closer until his nose nearly brushed mine. "You're lucky I don't like trouble."

Pulling back, he dragged me away from the wall and released me with a shove towards the balcony. I stumbled forward from the force, my feet getting caught in his discarded shirt and causing me to lurch forward. My hands reached out, slamming onto the table beside me to keep me from bruising my knees.

"Leave. Before I change my mind or someone shows up to investigate. It won't be long. You hit the wall hard." He walked to the night table by his bed and picked up the glass of water it held. "If my men see you, they'll report it and I'll be forced to deal with you," he warned, taking a calm sip while his words had my heart slamming against my chest.

Lifting a hand, I brushed the hair that had fallen into my eyes behind my ear before dropping my hands to rub them on my leg. I could feel the lingering warmth of a sting. His words slowly sunk in as my eyes dropped to the key around his neck. He lowered the glass, not missing where my gaze had shifted. He had to know that was what I was after. And why.

"Please, I need the key."

He held my eyes for a moment before looking away. "So stupid," he sighed as he set the glass down.

His words had my frown growing and sparked anger.

"The moment you use a key is the moment he'll know exactly where you are."

I paled. "Who?" I asked, but I didn't need to. I already knew.

"I think you know."

The Winter King.