His eyes glint. “Yes, well, you were nervous. But you quickly made up for it.”
He languidly pushes himself up and holds his hand out to me. “I’m Lukas Grey.”
“I know,” I reply unsteadily, taking his hand. His handshake is firm and strong.
“You know?” he says, cocking an eyebrow.
“Fallon. When I saw her take your arm, I figured out who you were. She told me that you’re about to be fasted to her.”
“Oh, did she now?” He’s grinning again.
“Aren’t you?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
“She did corner me earlier to tell me all about you,” he says, smiling.
“What did she say?”
“Well, the obvious. That you look exactly like your grandmother.” He leans in so close I can feel his breath on my ear. “I’ve seen portraits of your grandmother. You’re much more attractive than she ever was.”
I gulp, mesmerized by him.
He straightens back up as my face starts to betray my quickening pulse by coloring.
“What else did she tell you?” I ask.
“She said that you’re head over heels in love with Gareth Keeler.”
A nervous laugh comes sputtering out of me. “Oh, for goodness’ sake.”
“So it’s not true?”
“No!” I say, scrunching my face up in disbelief. “I mean...we used to take baths together!”
He grins wickedly.
“In a washbasin!” I splutter, making it worse.
“Lucky for him,” he says, raising his eyebrows in delight.
“No, no...it’s not at all what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking that I’m becoming more envious of Gareth Keeler by the minute.”
“We were small children,” I cry, desperately trying to exorcise the picture forming in his mind. “I’ve known him all my life. We grew up together. He’s like a brother to me.”
He just stands there, grinning, enjoying this way too much.
I sigh. “What else did Fallon tell you?” I ask, giving up.
“She told me that you’ve never been kissed.”
I roll my eyes at this, mortified. “I should never have told her that. I think she’s told everyone in the room.”
He fixes me with eyes full of suggestion. “Well, that’s easily remedied.”
“What?” I say stupidly.
He steps back and holds out his hand. “C’mon,” he says, grinning.
I can make out Fallon across the room, still cornered by my aunt, giving us a look of pure rage.
Heart pounding, I take Lukas’s hand and follow as he leads me briskly through the crowd and out of the ballroom.
* * *
I pass Paige in the foyer, and her eyebrows shoot up. She frantically shakes her head from side to side and opens her mouth to say something, which comes out as an incoherent squeak. I know I’m infringing unforgivably on Fallon’s territory, but this is, by far, the most thrilling thing that’s ever happened to me.
I stumble a bit, trying to keep up with Lukas’s long stride as he leads me around the foyer’s staircase and down a series of halls. I catch glimpses of grandeur along the way—more chandeliers, a portrait of my grandmother, beautiful landscapes of the Verpacian mountains and the Voltic Sea.
The decor suddenly changes as we duck down a side hallway with deep maroon carpeting and burgundy walls suffused with the soft, amber glow of sporadic wall lamps. The hallway is deserted, the distant sounds of the party now muffled and far away. Lukas slows and leads me down the length of it, past where it curves to where it ends.
He stops and turns to face me, his grin returning. I step back and nervously feel for the wall behind me as I eye the ebony wand affixed to his belt.
He leans in close, places a hand on the wall beside me and reaches up to brush a loose tendril of my hair back behind my ear.
I swallow audibly, my heartbeat becoming erratic.
“Now,” he says silkily, “what’s this about your never having been kissed?”
I open my mouth to say something. To let him know that I don’t know how to kiss, and that I’m probably very bad at it, but before I can say anything, he raises my chin, leans in and brings his lips to mine with gentle pressure, all of my concerns instantly disappearing into a puff of smoke.
He lets his lips linger on mine briefly before pulling away a fraction and bringing his mouth close to my ear. “There,” he whispers softly. “Now you’ve been kissed.”
I’ve fallen into a complete daze. Aislinn was so very wrong about this.
I reach up tentatively and place my hands on his shoulders. I can feel the warmth of him through the silk of his tunic.
“You’re very beautiful,” he breathes as he leans in for another kiss.
His lips are more insistent this time, and I’m growing warm to his touch in a way I’ve never experienced, feeling as if I’m floating deeper and deeper into a dream. He slides his hand around my waist and pulls me in close. It feels so good to be kissed by him, to be so close to him—dangerously good. Better than the feel of smooth River Maple. Better than the velvety bark of the Verpacian Elm. Better than anything.
The feeling swells into a strong flash of sensation as if every piece of wood surrounding us fleetingly blazes with torchlight. The fire courses through me from my feet, through my body, heating my lips as a vision of dark, primordial forest fills my mind.
I gasp and pull back, the fire immediately dampening, the image blurred then gone.
Lukas looks momentarily stunned, his eyes gone wide, his hands tight around me.
“They told me about you,” I breathe, overwhelmed by the wild thrill of being with him. “They told me...that you’re powerful.”
Lukas’s eyes narrow in on me intently and he flashes me a disconcertingly wicked grin. “I am,” he says as he studies me. “But so are you. Perhaps even more so. I can sense it about you.” His fingers lightly trace along the back of my neck. “Only you don’t know it, do you?” His eyes darken. “Yet.”
My breath catches as he teasingly runs his thumb just above the collar on the back of my dress. It’s incredibly exciting and deeply alarming all at the same time.
I shake my head. “I only look like my grandmother. I’ve no magic.”
“Really,” Lukas says, cocking his head to one side contemplatively, his hand now resting loosely on my hip. “Have you ever picked up a wand, Elloren?”
“Not that I remember.”
His face takes on a darker look, the edges of his lips curling. “Well,” he says, pleased with this new knowledge, “we’ll just have to take care of that, as well.” He snakes his arm around my waist and leans in close. “You should be wandtested. By me.”
“Lukas!” a male voice calls from the hallway.
My body stiffens, my face reddening. Lukas, on the other hand, seems completely unfazed.
It’s Sylus Bane.
Sweet Ancient One, not another Bane. Not now.
Sylus’s eyes widen when he realizes who I am, then his gaze narrows, his mouth lifting in a jaded smirk. “Well, if it isn’t Mage Elloren Gardner! Fast work, Lukas. As usual, you have my complete and utter admiration.” He spits out a short laugh. “Just wait until Fallon gets wind of this...”
A creeping dread shivers up my spine. Fallon’s going to kill me.
“Is there a particular reason why you are so rudely interrupting us?” Lukas calmly asks.
There’s a chilly edge to his tone, and Sylus Bane’s smirk dampens. “Well,” Sylus explains, “we’re going...out. I assumed you’d be joining us. Unless, of course, you’re much too busy here?”
Lukas sighs and gives me a somewhat reluctant look. He turns to face Sylus. “I’ll meet you ou
t front momentarily.”
Sylus grins wickedly, as if he’s won some secret contest, before he makes his exit. I relax a bit.
Lukas leans on the wall, one arm lightly around my waist.
I look closely at him. “Are you involved with Fallon Bane?”
He tilts his head and gives me a wry look. “I courted her. Briefly. Quite a while ago.”
“Oh.” I nod in complete understanding now.
He lets out a resigned sigh, his gaze level. “Our affinity lines clash. Disastrously, in my opinion, though obviously not in hers. She has a strong affinity for ice. I’ve none.” He rubs his fingers along my lower back, a delicious heat trailing his touch. His mouth tilts into a grin. “I’ve more of an affinity for fire.”
I hold his stare and imagine I could fall right into the smoldering green of it.
Trystan’s told me all about Mage affinities, how magic runs deep along elemental lines, every Mage possessing a different proportion of the five elementals: fire, earth, air, light and water, Trystan having leanings toward both fire and water magic.
I can sense Lukas’s magic. I can feel his fire.
Lukas has grown quiet and appears to be considering something.
“Come to the Yule dance with me,” he says.
“I don’t know what that is.”
“It’s a dance held every Yule at the University for Gardnerian scholars and graduates. Come with me.”
I swallow, not believing this is happening. It has to be a dream. “All right,” I say, nodding dumbly.
He grins widely and reaches up to play with my hair. “We should be getting back,” he says ruefully. “Your aunt will be wondering what became of you.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I say, drawn in by his languid touch. “She seemed pretty happy to see us leave together.”
Overjoyed, actually.
“Yes, well...” he agrees, chuckling. He pulls away and offers me his arm. I thread my arm through his, part of me feeling oddly reckless, not wanting to leave, wanting to stay here alone with him, to feel the fire of his kiss light up the room.
When we reach the foyer, a group of young soldiers and military apprentices, Sylus amongst them, shout boisterously to Lukas. I look past them to see my brother Rafe approaching at a brisk pace, his eyes darting back and forth between Lukas and myself.
“Hey, Ren,” he greets me warmly.
I let go of Lukas’s arm and give my brother an affectionate hug.
“Where’s Trystan?” I ask, overjoyed to be with my brother again, but self-consciously aware of Lukas by my side.
“Trystan is staying with Gareth and his family,” Rafe tells me, smiling. “You know how much he loves large social gatherings.”
I laugh at this. “Where’s the harem that Trystan says you’re usually trailed by?” I tease.
He grins mischievously. “I just got here.” Rafe turns to Lukas, his smile becoming tight—less a friendly gesture, more a tiger bearing its teeth. “Giving my sister a tour, were you?”
“Something like that,” Lukas replies evenly.
Although Rafe is still smiling, his right arm clenches, his hand closing into a fist.
“How’s that bow arm of yours, Rafe?” Lukas asks pleasantly.
“Deadly accurate as ever, Lukas.”
Lukas turns to me, ignoring the sudden tension in the air. “I keep trying to get your brother to apprentice with the military. He could be very successful. Best tracker, best hunter...best Gardnerian archer I’ve ever seen. He’s a dangerous man, your brother.”
“Oh, now, I’m not all that dangerous, Lukas,” Rafe says, still smiling. “Not unless someone were to bother my little sister, that is.”
Lukas laughs at this. “I seriously doubt that she needs your protection, Rafe.”
Rafe’s eyes flicker toward me questioningly before lighting again on Lukas.
One of the soldiers calls out for Lukas to join them.
“I’ll let you two catch up with each other,” Lukas says. He takes my hand and leans to kiss the back of it, a smile on his lips. His touch sends a delicious chill down my spine and I struggle to maintain my composure. “Elloren, it’s been a pleasure meeting you,” he says, his eyes locked on mine. He straightens and turns to my brother. “Rafe,” he says as he tips his head to my brother in acknowledgment.
“Lukas,” my brother replies coolly.
We both watch as Lukas strides off in the direction of his fellow soldiers and makes his exit with them.
Rafe turns to me, visibly relaxing. “I hear you were quite the star tonight.” His face takes on a look of mock suspicion. “Who are you, and what have you done with my shy, reserved sister?”
“I’m her glamoured double,” I laugh.
The foyer is now mostly empty, except for the two of us. It seems the party is dying down, the buzz of conversation emanating from the ballroom quieter, the music now absent.
“Hey, Ren,” Rafe says, his voice uncharacteristically serious, “you know I wouldn’t tell you how to run your life, right?”
I look up at him curiously, wondering what’s prompted this comment.
He inhales deeply, as if wanting to choose his words carefully. “I know Aunt Vyvian wants you fasted, but...don’t jump into anything with Lukas Grey, all right?”
I feel myself flushing and shrug evasively. “I’m not.”
“I’ve known him a long time,” Rafe cautions me. “And I know you’re smart, but so is he. And he has more...experience in the world.”
I purse my lips in embarrassed annoyance, wanting to ignore this.
Rafe lets out a long sigh and rubs at the bridge of his nose. “Just be careful, all right?”
“I will,” I promise edgily.
Upon hearing this, Rafe seems to relax, and his usual easy expression returns. “All right, all right,” he says, holding up his hands in mock defeat. “This concludes the overprotective older brother part of the evening.”
“Good,” I say with relief, attempting to bury his warning in the back of my mind. I notice a group of nice-looking girls hovering near the door to the ballroom, giggling and looking at Rafe.
“Hey, Rafe,” I say, “have you ever met Aislinn Greer?”
“Not formally.” He lifts one eyebrow in question.
“I just met her a while ago. I should introduce the two of you.”
He laughs. “You’re trying to set me up with her, aren’t you?”
“Okay, I realize you don’t need much help with that.” I glance over at the knot of giggling girls. I suspect they’ll converge around Rafe like a flock of geese as soon as I’m done talking to him. “Aislinn seems...different. She’s smart...nice...”
“I’ll tell you what,” he bargains, amused. “There’s a dance every Yule at University. You go with Gareth, and I’ll ask Aislinn Greer.”
“I can’t,” I say hesitantly, not wanting to displease my older brother. “I’ve already agreed to go with Lukas.”
“Elloren.” He reaches out to touch my arm, his voice once again serious. “I’m not kidding about Lukas Grey. Stay away from him. He’s incredibly powerful. You’re playing with fire there.”
Maybe I want to play with fire.
“Thanks for the warning,” I say, my tone completely and utterly noncommittal.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Wandfasting
“I received some correspondence this morning,” my aunt informs me as we sit in her breakfast alcove.
We’re surrounded on three sides by arching windows that overlook well-maintained gardens. A nearby display of blood-red roses pierces the gloomy, overcast day.
I can barely make out the sound of silverware on the gilded porcelain as my aunt neatly cuts into the omelete and spiced fruit before her.
Her half-eaten scone sits pristinely on an adjacent plate. Everything she does—calligraphy, eating, dressing—is always so tidy. It’s easy to feel disheveled and bumbling next to her constant perfection. I glance down at my own half-eaten scone, a circle of fine crumbs orbiting the plate.
“Correspondence from whom?” I wonder as I try to clean up my stray crumbs with the tip of my finger.
“Lukas Grey’s parents.”
My finger freezes. I look up, my aunt taking her time with this news as she tranquilly sips at her tea.
“Are you friends with them, then?” I ask, trying to keep my voice neutral.
My aunt shoots me a bemused smile. “Of course, dear. I’ve known Lachlan and Evelyn for years.”
I take a small bite from my scone, attempting to appear nonchalant.
“Apparently,” she continues, as she cradles her teacup, “Lukas indicated to them last night that he would agree to fast to you.”
I choke on the scone. “What?”
My aunt flashes a large, white smile at me, like a cat that has just eaten a canary. “It seems you made quite an impression.”
“He wants to wandfast to me?” I sputter, crumbs flying from my mouth.
She eyes me quizzically. “Why are you so surprised? You’re of age, Elloren. Most Gardnerian girls your age are already fasted, or are soon about to be...”
“But I’ve only just met him!”
“That’s of no consequence,” she says, waving her hand dismissively.
I stare at her, stunned. Of no consequence. Seriously?
“We should arrange for the two of you to be fasted as soon as possible,” Aunt Vyvian states decidedly. “Enith...”
My aunt turns to the blue-skinned Urisk girl who helped me with my music last night. She stands against the wall, silent and expressionless, like a statue.
“Yes, ma’am?” Enith responds.
“Send word to the Greys,” my aunt instructs. “Let them know that Elloren is very pleased to accept Lukas’s proposal and that we would like to arrange for the fasting to take place as soon as possible. Perhaps after tomorrow’s church service.”
“Wait...” I plead, interrupting her. “I can’t fast to Lukas.”
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