VI

Jonathan went home when she asked, disappointed as he was to go, but her spell was still upon him. He couldn't think of anything but her. He couldn't believe he had somehow fallen asleep and not made love to her. He had wanted to. He had gone up to her tower room with the intention of making love to her.

But it wasn't just the disappointment of falling asleep that had him so disheartened. Jonathan had actually enjoyed just talking to her. The sound of her voice and the way she spoke, the things she said and made him think about, it all made him so very curious about her. He wanted to talk to her some more. He wanted to learn about her. He wanted to make love to her, yes, but he really just wanted to be with her.

"Did you hear me?"

Jonathan's head snapped up at the harsh sound of Max's voice. "Oh…sorry…"

Max sighed, "First you don't come home last night, now this? You sure she didn't put some magic on you?"

"Maybe she did," Jonathan replied with a chuckle. He wasn't entirely sure what had happened or why he felt like this. Magic was probably the most likely reason. After all, no woman had ever affected him like this before. And this woman, magic notwithstanding, was unlike any woman he'd ever known.

"Maybe you oughta go see the King and get him to get her off you," Max suggested.

The idea was immediately abhorrent to Jonathan. First, he had no interest in getting her off him. Quite the opposite, in fact. And second, the very concept of the King having any control over her seemed highly unlikely and almost laughable.

But he did want to see her again. And going to the castle was the only way he could do that. He wanted to know her, including why she was trapped in that tower, and there was only one way to do that.

Meanwhile, the castle was in something of an uproar. None of the fires would light. It wasn't snowing outside yet, but the cold was coming quite near, and none of the servants could get any heat or light in any room or for any purpose. The kitchens could do nothing, the water was all freezing, and the rapidly setting sun meant that they would all soon be in pitch darkness.

Except in the sorceress's tower. She had light and heat all to herself.

As the last vestiges of daylight were fading, the King stormed into the tower. "What is the meaning of this!?" he demanded.

She looked up from her book, eyes red from tears. "I'm sorry," she said simply.

"You have caused this. Fix it!" he snapped.

But she shook her head. "I don't know how. I'm trying to find a way. I just…" She trailed off as she was suddenly bombarded by the King's thoughts and feelings. Usually, she had to seek such things for herself; she did not usually receive them without trying. His heart thundered in his chest and his stomach tied itself in knots and the fear pulsated through him, carried thick in his blood. He was terrified of her, of what she had done and what she could do.

She had always thought that he respected her. He used her power to his benefit, and she was content to serve the King. She knew that others feared her, but not like this. She had never truly realized how terrible her power could be. It made her a monster. She hadn't felt it until now.

Quickly, she blew air through her pursed lips to the King to calm him. It was a simple spell but a useful one. He was instantly relieved. And when she delved back into his mind, she saw the fog of fright clearing. He was coming back to himself and noticing things. Noticing her blotched, puffy face. She could sense his concern. She gave another quick puff of air and caused him to ignore his observation. She didn't want him asking questions.

The King stood before her, and she needed to figure out what to say. She certainly wasn't going to tell the King that she had found a perfect man who made her heart soar and her body tremble, only to send him away in order to protect him from the very fear that the King and so many others felt toward her. She wanted so desperately to bring Jonathan Hart back to her. She wanted him so much that she could hardly breathe. But she couldn't do that to him. She couldn't force him. She wouldn't love him if she forced him.

"I'll fix the fires," she said softly.

With a curt nod, the King turned and left.

What she didn't say was that she had no idea how to fix the fires. She hadn't meant to cause that problem. She was losing control. And now she was the one who was scared.