“Be patient, Marigold,” he said and waved a hand.
A small, white stone castle materialized in front of us, its glamour slipping off. Despite the howling wind, the castle stood unmoved.
Ares strode toward the entrance without sparing me a glance.
I immediately screamed inwardly,Teleport!
“I’ve put a binding spell on you,” Ares said, not looking back. “You won’t leave unless I release you. You can either make yourself comfortable, or you’re welcome to stay in the center of the storm.”
The fucker had chained me with unseen shackles. I glared at his backside, frustrated that I couldn’t even stab him in the back.
He stepped through the gates of the castle.
I called for my power again, but nothing came to me.
If I couldn’t get out of here right now, I should take advantage of my new situation.
Instead of standing in the center of the windstorm like a fool, I would explore Ares’s hidden castle and find out what he was up to, as I was sure he was up to no good.
I marched toward the castle, the wind following me, whipping my every inch until I stepped through the entrance.
Then the iron gate shut behind me, trapping me inside.
CHAPTER 4
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Istalked beside Ares. Without the wind shrieking in my ear, I now had the luxury of studying where the god had brought me as his captive.
The castle was no bigger than the old, abandoned library I’d used as a home in Crack. Strangely, this place was empty, yet well-maintained.
I squinted up at the upstairs windows, all dustless and shiny and without bars. This might be the best-looking prison on Earth. Then a thought clicked. It was a warded magical castle.
It’d take all I had to break out of here when my magic well was refilled; hell, I might not get out at all if I didn’t give Ares what he wanted.
I tried to repress the rising anxiety churning like acid in my stomach. It would do me no good, just cloud my thoughts, if I had a panic attack.
I couldn’t lose my shit now.
I couldn’t keep thinking and hoping that the demigods would find and rescue me. I had only my own ass to rely on while I was trapped here.
We’d treaded halfway through the courtyard before I realized I was still barefoot. I gave Ares’s boots a measured look. They would look like boats on my feet, but they were better than nothing.