Forged in Fire (The Forged Chronicles Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

He brushed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes and soaked in the sensation. I would never get tired of his lips on mine.
    “Ok.” I nodded, I felt exhaustion setting in, and if we didn’t walk outside quickly I was likely to change my mind.
    James held open the door to reveal stairs and took my hand. He led me down a steep spiral staircase that seemed to go on forever.
    “How high up were we?” I asked as I clutched James’ hand. There was no handrail on either side, and considering how unsteady I felt, I knew letting go could lead to serious injury or death. Neither were experiences I was interested in having.
    “Fairly high.” He squeezed my hand. “But we will reach the ground soon.”
    “And why are we here exactly?”
    “It is a good place to regroup while we plan the next stop.”
    “The next stop in what? Didn’t you just say everything was taken care of?” I watched my footing carefully in the dim light seeping into the stairwell from the occasional oval-shaped window in the stone.
    “Why do you suddenly doubt me?” James froze, jerking me to a stop.
    It took me a moment to regain my balance. “You seem to have changed your tune quickly, and considering I don’t even quite remember how we got here, I have questions.”
    “I rescued you from the frozen lake.”
    “Did Gregor throw me in?” I thought back on my memories. “That actually happened, didn’t it?”
    “Yes.” James’ face tensed. “And I should warn you. He is here.”
    “What?” My free hand flew to my chest. “Why?” In a million years I didn’t expect to hear that. Everything being okay did not involve hanging out with the guy who’d try to kill me.
    “Because as strange as it sounds, he tossed you in to help you.” James rubbed the back of his neck. “I did not understand at the time, but I do now.”
    “How could throwing me into freezing water possibly help me?” Things had gone from bad to worse. If James was out of his mind, where did that leave me? This mess kept getting worse and worse. “Now I know something is up with you if you are even willing to talk to a guy who almost killed me.”
    “It is more complicated than it appears.” James tugged gently on my hand. “And I wish it did not have to be.”
    “It can’t be more complicated than everything else I’ve already dealt with.” Complicated had taken on new meaning for me.
    “But it is.” James let out a slow deep breath. “You have to trust me on this.”
    “The guy tried to kill me.”
    “Not kill, but he did put you in danger.” James’ expression darkened.. “I swear you will not have to go near him. If it were up to me I would keep you away from him indefinitely.”
    “By that you mean keep me up in that tower.” I nodded toward where we’d just left. I was too shaky to point.
    “You are not a prisoner.”
    “I never said I was.” I didn’t understand the situation enough to really understand what was going on.
    “Then why are you acting so defensively and suggesting I am keeping you anywhere?”
    “Let’s just keep walking.” I was getting tired again, and the steep stairwell didn’t seem like the ideal place to pass out.
    “I think it may be better if you lay down. You look pale.”
    “I need fresh air.” I continued down the stairs.
    “Ainsley, I am worried about you.”
    “Not as worried as I am about you.” I never imagined I could be afraid of James, but I was. Something was off about him, and it was making me question every one of my thoughts and feelings.
    “Your memory. It is not what it should be. You have been repeating yourself.”
    “I need fresh air.”
    “I do not think the air will change anything.”
    “And what will?” I fought off the mounting haze. “More sex with you? Because that’s not going to happen.” No matter how much I desired him, I wasn’t sleeping with him until I got some answers.
    “This has nothing to do with sex.” James closed his eyes tightly and then opened them.