23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

P hasing isn't comparable to traveling through a rune gate. One second I'm standing before Luc, face a mixture of shock and rage, and a heartbeat later we are standing in a large study with wall-to-wall bookcases. It takes my ears a moment to adjust to the sudden silence.

My head spins as I look up, taking in the second story of bookcases and the small walkway lining the perimeter. The only wall that isn't covered in books is the floor-to-ceiling windows and door leading out to a stone balcony.

"Razenna!" August yells through the study doorway. He helps me to a leather wing-back chair near the center of the room. Razenna rushes in and stops short in the doorway.

"Did you kill him?" she asks, red eyes wide.

"No," he says curtly. "Luc and Sven are on their way to the castle right now with Mads. Help them get set up in the east wing and have the Star Suite prepared for Bronwyn."

Razenna leaves, and August walks to a small bar. He doesn't reach for the decanter but instead grabs a crystal glass and brings it to the table beside me. He pulls a dagger from his hip, and I jolt back into the chair.

"You need more power," he says gently and cuts into the palm of his hand. "Your darkness can metabolize the energy from blood. Not as well as we can, but it should do for now." He squeezes about an ounce into the glass and hands it to me. "Why didn't you pull more from Luc?"

"I don't know how." I pinch my nose and drink the contents of the glass. "He seems to be able to sense my well, but I have no idea how to do anything with his magic." The tingly warmth of magic regeneration begins in my belly and radiates outwards.

The tension in my shoulders and neck releases as the pain in my leg lessens.

The sensation of his magic is also different, and frustration builds as it moves through me. My heart beats faster, and I bite my lip. I'm hungry – for him. I shamelessly gaze down his body. His fighting gear is fitted, and I wonder if I can get him to take it off. My gaze is pulled lower; I need more.

August clears his throat. "I read it can sometimes have this effect." He takes the glass from me. "It will pass. You'll be able to read more . . ."

I grab his wrist and lick his sliced palm. His power ripples through me, and I'm intoxicated by it. He caresses my face as I press my lips to his palm. I look at him through my lashes and lick again, sliding my fingers over the edge of his pants and pulling him closer.

"Woman, your gaze could start a war," he whispers with heavy breath.

I slide my hand closer to the center of his belt and feel bristly hair running below his navel. He exhales loudly and runs his fingers over my shoulder and up the back of my neck, brushing my jawline with his thumb. Power prickles my flesh, and I expand my well.

"What are you doing?" Razenna asks quickly. She storms into the library, hands on her hips. I drop August's hand and release his pants as he steps away from me. Her scornful look brings heat to my cheeks. Why is she so angry?

"You two are going to create a real blasted problem for me." She crosses her arms. "I just got back from Litha; I need rest before I have to go clean up another mess." She points out past the balcony. "They're almost here."

I run onto the balcony. Three riders approach the castle and they're close enough that I can see the sneer on Luc's face.

"Make sure they have armed guards on their doors," August says. "I don't want Luc or Sven traveling about the castle without an escort. I'll get Bronwyn to her suite." Razenna raises an eyebrow at August but leaves without comment.

"Is Eoin here?"

"Yes. You'll see him at breakfast. Quickly," he says, leading me into the hall. The walls are dark and moody, and gold-framed portraits and fine art of various sizes adorn the walls. He opens a large set of ornately carved walnut doors at the end of the hallway. The walls in this room are covered in a dark forest mural and beautifully detailed tapestries. The bed has ivory silk linens and a coordinating canopy a few shades darker than the billowing curtains near the balcony.

"Your bathing chamber is through that door." He points. "Out here," he leads me out onto my private balcony, "is the second-best view in the castle." The beauty of the room is forgotten as I take in countless bright stars across the night sky. Below, a large private pool surrounded by pine and fir trees reflects the starlight.

I close my eyes and breathe in the crisp, clean air. "It's so peaceful."

He doesn't respond and instead gazes solemnly at the night sky. He looks sad and tired.

Shouting carries through the castle and echoes through the suite. August's face hardens. "I need to deal with this." He stops at the doorway and turns back to me, hesitating.

"Remember what I said about Luc. Don't trust him. He's a genius, and there's no way he didn't notice you weren't regenerating from what little light we had. Everything he does is calculated and with intention. He's going to want to sink his claws even deeper into you when he finds out. . . or worse."

He leaves my room, heading toward the shouting on the main floor. I hang back by my door for a moment, but curiosity gets the better of me.

The shouting is more explicit as I approach the mezzanine. "You take the girl in and have me escorted in like a bloody bastard." I place my hands on the banister and peer below into the main hall. Luc points his finger at August's impassive face. "You arrogant—"

"It's like we're back at The Snakebeard, watching fights break out below." A familiar voice to my left makes my heart leap.

"Eoin!" I tuck myself into his arms and thank the gods we've both made it through the first relic heist.

"There's a huge library here. You're going to love it," he says.

"I saw it. It's amazing."

"No, not the study. There is a library off castle grounds. Razenna took me out there when we arrived, and we got a head start on some relic research."

"She's bound to me." Luc's shouting draws the eyes of several servants. "You can't just take her from me without repercussions."

Eoin's head whips to me.

"She's not property." August's voice raises for the first time during the argument, and Luc's mouth snaps shut.

"What the hell is he talking about, Bron?" Eoin stares at Luc as he's escorted away. I back away from the banister, guilt and fear twisting my gut and his eyes snap to mine. "Bron?"

"When I stole the relic, something happened." I shrug a shoulder, and he frowns. "Um, so I guess Luc touched the relic at the same time I did, and since it was activated, it bound our magic."

He stiffens. "What does that mean? Are you married now?"

"It doesn't seem so." I move through the hall, and he follows me toward my suite. "I don't know much, but I know we can use each other's magic now. He wants me to come back with him. He's offered me a job after all this."

"I don't trust him." Eoin stops near a portrait of three men holding up a severed giant's head on a battlefield.

"You said the same thing about August."

"I don't trust him either. Why didn't you tell me this? We don't keep secrets."

I can hear the hurt in his voice, and it deepens my guilt, adding more rust to the nicked blade within me.

"I'm sorry. There just wasn't a lot of time to explain."

"Well, we have plenty of time right now. Is there anything else you need to tell me? Secrets like this make us weak. We can't afford that right now." His eyes search my face.

I can't tell him about the voice in my head. He's already freaked out by my powers. I can't afford to scare him away.

"That's all," I lie and pray the first rust layer in that blade won't reveal real damage when it flakes off.