Prison Princess

just stay right there and never move again. I buried my fingers in the dirt, grounding myself against the hard forest floor while trying to settle the ache in my skull. It was something I used to do back at Nightmare Penitentiary. With my ear to the floor, it was like the pulse of the universe provided a soothing heartbeat that could chase away the demons.
Cypress rose and walked over to me before sitting down at my side so that he could put a hand on my shoulder. His skin was rough and hot. The feel of him was surprisingly comforting, and the tender act of kindness jarred me. Why was he being so gentle? “I’m sorry I knocked you out like that,” he said softly. I didn’t know his low voice was capable of so much compassion. “I had to give you a good dose of sleep power. The neck chakra is the perfect place to deliver it. I needed you to pass out before you did something irreversible.”
I processed his words for a brief moment. Okay. He’d grabbed my neck to shove power at me. A flash of a memory skipped across my mind. I could almost feel his hands gripping me again. I understood what he had done, but I couldn’t make sense of why. I rubbed at my throat, hoping that the movement would conjure up memories and understanding. It didn’t hurt. Had he used a healing charm, too? “I’m really confused, Cypress. Why stop me at all? I was saving you.”
“I know that you’re brand new to Druid magic, and I’m not the best teacher,” he began while gnawing on his lip. It was like he was contemplating what to say. “All of my knowledge comes from rumors, but there is one universally known truth: When you draw from the earth and the moon, it’s the purest form of magic. It’s not meant to kill. Protect, yes. But never kill. If you twist your magic and use it for that, bad things happen. It’s why I was trained in hellfire magic. The source is more forgiving if used to take a life.”
I scrunched up my nose. There was so much that he’d just said that I couldn’t understand. What kind of bad things? I was still coming to terms with the fact that I even had magic to use. Before, I never knew who or what I was. I just existed without powers or any miraculous purpose. I was human, almost. Now it seemed like the world was at my fingertips.
“Hellfire magic?” I asked. That sounded ominous. At Nightmare, I’d heard whispers of evil men and women dabbling in it, but I’d never met someone as skilled as Cypress, wielding it with such ease. His display of power was awe inspiring. Not only had he gotten me out of the prison, but he’d defended us, too. Only someone incredibly strong could handle such temperamental magic. And most who used it ended up in the darkest corners of our prison.
“I didn’t stutter,” he replied.
I nodded my head, feigning understanding even though there was still so much to process. We stared at one another as I pulled at the tether deep in my chest. More and more memories surfaced. Earlier, I had somehow awakened an ability within myself I didn’t know existed. And the longer I was out of Nightmare Penitentiary, the more my power seemed to bloom to life in my soul. I closed my eyes and searched for that spark of power, and in my mind, I stroked the gift, thanking it for saving our lives.
“Princess?” Cypress called. I snapped my eyes open and looked around the forest floor in shock. Beautiful lilies sprouted from the earth and curled to life in a beautiful procession. I gasped at the bright pink colors. My mind felt wide open and limitless. “Beautiful,” he whispered. I turned my gaze to his, and the moment our stares collided, Cypress cleared his throat before patting my shoulder again, finally stopping to press his hand more strongly against my arm. His hold changed, gentling, until he stroked instead. “Thank you for trying to save me. For the record, another two seconds, I’d have been out of that rope myself. Just had to work through some spells.”
I sat up slowly. I loved the stroking sensation, but I needed answers and I needed them now. “Can you tell me what’s going on? I don’t know what to do or if this is some sick joke. You seem like some sort of powerful lunatic.”
His smile startled me. It was huge. “I am a powerful lunatic. You’re welcome to continue to think of me that way. In fact, I prefer it.” His grin faded fast, and he leaned closer, almost threateningly. “I’m also an assassin. Those men who were here, they are, too. They want to bring you back to Nightmare as much as I want to get you away. We have four more days of travel before I can get you home. I swore to do so. I never break my promises.” Cypress swallowed, and watching his throat move like that did something to me. I wanted to reach out and stroke his Adam’s apple and feel the strong muscles of his throat under my fingertips.
Finally, he spoke again. “I never lose.”
“Everyone loses at least once,” I replied cynically. My throat was rough and dry. I could really use some water.
He leaned over and spoke right against my lips, and I froze at his closeness. There was only a breath separating us. I could smell the wild forest on his skin. I breathed in his scent and nearly moaned out loud at his masculine presence. Up close, a scatter of freckles were more obvious along his nose. The scruff on his jaw was dark. I stared at his beard for a moment. How would it feel to run my cheek against it? It was such a strange feeling to wake up exhausted and sore,