29. Stella

29

STELLA

“What’s that?” I ask after swallowing my bite of Silas’s exceedingly sweet cereal. The lizard man is currently conversing with Francesca at the dining table while Ben shows me something from his place at the counter.

My eyes are still a little bleary. I was eventually able to go back to sleep, and in the light of day, what happened with Stoneheart only causes a light ache in my chest.

I have more to give than being a sad sap.

I have Ben who is holding out a piece of metal that I squint at. I have this territory to care for, even if half the time it’s hard to believe that I can make any difference.

I have Stoneheart’s obsession. He named the damned building after the term of endearment he has for me whether he ever admits it or not.

I don’t need his love.

Lust will keep the both of us warm, even if he’s as cold as his namesake.

If only I didn’t admire him so much. If only I was less needy. Maybe then I wouldn’t want to own his heart. Maybe then I wouldn’t carry the piece of labradorite around in my pocket like a good luck charm because the thoughtfulness of the gift warms me.

I need to stop being greedy and get over the way the lack of affection after sex this morning felt like a rejection.

Ben places the piece of metal in my hand, and I turn it over with a frown. The hum of it is so weird. Like it’s there and then not. The taste on my tongue is like nothing I’ve sensed before.

“Timmy stole it off one of the abductors. Celeste says they all wore one. I’m no expert, but I thought you may want to take a look and see if it’s what’s allowing them past wards.”

Finally, my sluggish brain catches up. My eyes are wide when I look up, and he grins at me.

“Holy shit. This is what we needed. Ben!” My hand gestures before I take hold of the object with both hands with a little shriek. “Oh fuck! This could change everything.”

I throw my arms around him despite the presence of Stoneheart’s people and jump in place. Ben laughs and hugs me back. “I thought you’d appreciate it.”

I pull away. “Why didn’t you show me last night?”

He becomes stern. “You mean when you were dead on your feet from magic exertion?”

My lips twitched. “It wasn’t that bad.”

Ben barely keeps from rolling his eyes. “You need to take better care of yourself. You were already drained yesterday. I didn’t want to tempt you to push harder. Now you can start fresh.”

I do have a tendency to pour a little too much energy into my charms. I joke sometimes that I’m a professional napper.

“Let’s go to Rowan’s!” I say.

Exasperation flickers over Ben’s expression. “Finish eating your breakfast.”

I groan. “You’re not supposed to be the one bossing me around.”

But I shovel more of the cereal in my mouth, munching as quickly as I can without choking.

His lips twitch. He keeps the volume of his next words low. “I’m just looking out for you until we can both get bossed around.”