Mine to Spell (Mine #2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to escape him. Blast. This isn’t helping my family, and it certainly isn’t helping me.
    I turn to retrace the path out. Except, which way is out? Not only is this place massive, and we’ve twisted through much of it, I was too busy wondering about unimportant things to pay attention. Foolish act.
    A moment later he realizes I’m no longer following. “Come. Now.” His tone is the same as before but with an undercurrent that sends a streak of fear darting through me.
    Slowly, I angle toward him. Though we’re about twenty paces apart, the stone coldness of his words demand obedience. These are the orders of a warlock who is always obeyed. My body knows those orders so well, trained to follow them from birth. It leans forward to surrender, but I can’t do it. I can’t.
    I’ve brought myself far enough to keep my sisters out of trouble. They shouldn’t have any problems now if he’s the one that is supposed to control me and not Serena. I won’t suffer myself to be led toward whatever doom he has waiting for me. Not just sneaking away. It’s too late for that, but openly defying him. The instant the decision is made must show on my face because at that moment he strides toward me. So I take the only option left. I turn and run.
    His footsteps are heavy on the floor behind me, closing in. It won’t be long before he catches me. I push myself faster, wishing I’d worn breeches regardless of having to meet him this morning. When I come to a cross-section, I randomly dart down a hall, willing it to be the correct one. Before I’ve gone two steps, a hand wraps around my arm. Caught.
    He snatches me to him, anger narrowing his dark eyes. “Don’t run again, or there will be punishments.”
    His words mean nothing. Father used to say and do much worse. Yet his grip, vice-like around my arm, means there’s no choice but to comply. I struggle anyway, jerking away from him.
    A powder blue spell shoots from him, straight at me. It’s weaker than anything father ever threw at me but still enough that I float up in the air a few inches, drifting in a sort of bobbing motion behind him as he continues on. I flap my arms and legs every which way but continue floating after him. All my struggling is useless.
    My anger brews my magic into a storm worthy of capsizing the entire house. But it's entirely useless. I punch my fist in the air and give a growling scream. Edward doesn’t even bother to acknowledge it.
    We turn again, but this time into a room. Its grandeur is dimly lit by electric lights showing a space crammed with books, all of which seem to have titles related to magic. Chairs and a sofa dot the room, all matching the velvet red drapes.
    He directs the spell holding me to the far wall, away from all the books and chairs. I wobble over against my will. As much as this makes me think of father, being around a new spell is distracting. Rarely do I get to see a spell so close for so long. In spite of its obvious lack of power as it struggles to keep hold of me, it’s fascinating. I’m studying it, wishing I always had more of a chance to see spells like this one. When I'm not the object of its hex.
    Then I realize, not only has it distracted me from my anger—but from Edward. He’s only a few paces away, a wild look shining in his eyes.
    Distraction flees. There’s nothing left save for bludgeoning fear. His face, which was so deceptively bored before, has grown excited, eyes wide, mouth slightly open like he’s thirsty for something. And the only thing around is me.
    Serena’s experience with Thomas last year at the tournament flashes through my mind. I kick and thrash as hard as I can toward him, but nothing changes about my predicament. His eyes only grow hungrier as he steps closer. I scream for help, but his crooked smirk silences me.
    “No one can hear you. Even if they could, they wouldn’t step in the way of what belongs to me.”
    Fear tightens my throat, but I force words out. “You can’t. The