by Nicole Hall
To make matters worse, she hated the distance. Samantha wanted the teasing and sharing they’d had before. She missed Luc, even though she was the one creating the stilted tension. Was this empty shell of a partnership really better than enjoying the time she had with him now?
At the very least, Samantha didn’t want to spend the entire rest of the journey brooding at the trees. She rolled her eyes, annoyed with herself, and turned to face him. “You’re in a surprisingly good mood for someone who didn’t get the morning sex he was hoping for.”
He sent her a secretive smile. “Life is about more than sex, and I’m looking forward to a larger village with some proper amenities.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you miss an appointment with your manicurist?” The teasing comment slipped out, decimating the detachment she’d worked so hard to achieve that morning.
Luc shook his head. “Laugh now, but Victorine is a goddess of skin care.”
Samantha let the wasted effort go. They’d had sex again. He hadn’t proposed marriage. It didn’t have to be life-changing. She’d had plenty of physical relationships with other men. Not like this one… Her inner voice could burn in the fires of a thousand hells.
And when Luc finally left, her stupid heart could join it.
In the meantime, she’d enjoy his company. They rode for several hours, talking about their varied interests before the conversation circled back to sex.
Samantha gave him a long look. “Do you always carry condoms in your pack?”
“Since I met you, yes.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask if he had more, but she pressed her lips together to keep from asking. No good could come from him answering that question. When she snuck a glance at his face, the smirk there suggested he knew her inner struggle. Time for a change of subject.
“As much as I enjoy sleeping on the ground—”
“Ah, so you did enjoy it,” he murmured.
Samantha ignored his interruption. “—we should definitely look for an inn or something. We need information as much as comfortable beds.”
Luc squeezed her hand. “We may not find much about the Aecantha elders this far out. It seems like these people haven’t seen or heard from Keris in some time.”
He was probably right, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t try. “I’d at least like to know if these squirrels are going to suddenly develop a taste for meat and devour us one night. Maybe they’re trying to fatten us up with those piles of fruit.”
They rounded a curve in the trail and unexpectedly moved through a shimmering ward. Samantha sucked in a breath as the magic pressed against her skin, then passed. She turned to find the sigil and hopefully the purpose for the ward, but could only distinguish what looked like a soap bubble in the afternoon sun.
By the time she faced forward again, her magic had broken loose of her restraints and extended outward, mostly toward Luc. Panic made her yank it back, but she’d grasped wildly and ended up with her magic and Luc’s swirling inside her. He flinched, and Samantha tried to relax her grip on his hand and his power.
She winced. “I’m sorry. That’s never happened before.” The burn from his magic slowly faded, and Samantha breathed easier.
Luc ran his thumb over her palm, completely at ease. “An interesting development. I wonder what would have happened if I’d resisted instead of releasing my hold.”
Her eyes shot to his. “You let that happen?”
He studied her before answering. “That ward was meant to test bonds. I think as a way to judge the true power of an individual. According to Oren, the mating bond of his people allows the sharing of magic. Someone wants to know who’s coming and going.”
Samantha frowned. “Someone in Pasheen. That was a short-range ward, and they placed it around a blind corner. But why did it affect us that way? How do I have access to your magic at all?”
“Did your mage not teach you the power of bargains?”
She blew out a breath. “Of course, he did, but that doesn’t—” Her sentence cut off as she remembered the strange connection she’d felt from their agreement. The tickle of magic not hers and the pull from Luc whenever she let him in all the way. “Bargains don’t create deep bonds.”
“They create a connection between magic-users. What passes along that connection depends on the will of the users and the will of the magic.”
“Magic doesn’t have a will.”
“You’ve said that before, and yet, here we are. The base power we all share is changing. Realms are shifting closer and farther apart, and the magic is evolving. We need to be ready to adapt with it.”
Samantha shook her head. Magic had rules, just like everything else in the natural world. Boundaries. She’d studied most of her life to learn the intricacies and limits of what she could do, but Luc’s words spoke to a truth deep inside her. She felt the difference, and she couldn’t ignore his power simmering just outside her shields.
“How are you so calm about this?”
He sent her an amused smile. “I’m not, but we’re about to enter a village of powerful shifters, one of whom knows we’re coming. The bond between us is unexpected, but could prove useful. It’s only concerning to my continued independence. I’m addressing the larger threat first.”
The trees became sparse around them as the quinats trotted toward a village in the distance, larger than Rayl by at least double. As much as it pained her to admit it, Luc was right. They needed to focus on the outside threat, namely whoever had set that ward.
10
LUC
He hadn’t lied. The villagers could easily be a threat, and he intended to maintain his vigilance, but behind his confident façade, he grappled with his newfound knowledge. Samantha’s sudden grip on his power had nearly upended him, but he’d recognized the touch of her magic as well as her reaction.
The panic especially had felt familiar. Power was his most prized possession. Without it, he’d be vulnerable to those who would take advantage of him, like his fellow lords in his home realm. He’d given them one point of weakness, and they’d used it to banish him. It had taken almost a hundred years to replenish what he’d lost, and he had no intention of repeating that mistake.
Except somehow, he’d let Samantha close enough to bond with her. He’d been alarmed when she’d yanked on his magic, but a large part of him had wanted to let the situation play out. The part that trusted her to give as well as take.
Luc watched the area around them as they approached the buildings on the edge of town. They hadn’t seen any people since they’d left Rayl, but there were plenty milling around the gently sloping hills surrounding Pasheen.
They entered the village along a main pathway, leaving the army of squirrels behind in the trees. Small groups of people in varying modes of dress congregated in the street. No one glanced their direction, and though the quinats slowed, they walked right up to a large building similar to the one in Rayl.
Sherlock made a happy trill when they entered the barn, and Luc assumed that meant they’d reached their destination. They’d need the birds again when they left town, but the bond told him that their mounts planned to take them the full distance.
Luc briefly wondered if their location in the clans’ realm had somehow caused the deepening of his connection with Samantha. Like she’d said, bargains didn’t usually result in a bond that would allow the sharing of magic, but the people here regularly used bonds for a variety of magical uses. It was another example of how little everyone understood the magic that shaped their world.
They dismounted and removed the saddles, setting them aside in the stables while the quinats thrust their heads into a trough of hay. As if Koi hadn’t had her fill of Samantha’s squirrel offering already.
Samantha patted Koi’s speckled neck and turned toward the smaller, human-sized door. “I saw several people dressed similarly to us, so I think we’ll be able to blend in fairly well.”
Luc held the door open and allowed her to brus
h past him. “How are your energy levels?”
She lifted her chin as she surveyed the nearly empty side street. “If you’re asking whether I can keep us hidden, I’m fine. I’ve had years of practice with this particular skill.” Her stomach growled in the middle of her haughty speech, and she frowned. “I guess we should find some food though.”
Luc kept his smile to himself. She tried so hard to maintain this air of impenetrable perfection. He’d been fooled at first, thinking she had nothing but disdain for other lowly people, but slowly, he’d seen past the armor. Samantha craved control as a way to protect herself from being hurt.
He gestured toward the center of the village. “I suggest we follow the pedestrians.”
She nodded without looking at him and strode away. Luc followed at a slightly slower pace and watched for any undue attention. Several buildings away from the stable, the path curved and emptied into a small, bustling market. Luc’s brows rose. The edges of colorful, makeshift tents fluttered in the breeze, which brought the low din of haggling people.
“Do you smell that?” Samantha inhaled with a quiet moan, and Luc had to put his hands in his pockets to stop himself from kissing her on a very public thoroughfare.
The distinctive scent of roasting meat reached him, and he almost moaned himself. “Let’s see what they have available.”
Unlike markets in Terra, the sellers here didn’t hawk their goods. They spoke with the passers-by, but the conversations seemed to be neighbor to neighbor instead of merchant to buyer. Luc also noted that no form of currency changed hands. The smells of roasting meat and spices strengthened as they walked through the market until they reached a collection of tents that specialized in food.
Samantha, woman after his own heart, made a beeline for a man in a beige tunic handing out chunks of sizzling meat on stoneware plates. She held up two fingers and the man handed her two plates without question. A broad grin crossed her face when she turned to him and pointed with her chin toward the grass visible past the last tent.
Luc nodded, his heart in his throat at her unabashed joy. It should concern him that a smile affected him so strongly, but the reminder fell flat. Samantha showed her true emotions so rarely, but she’d given that smile to him. He wanted to shout his triumph to anyone that would listen.
They sat side by side in the grass and made quick work of the meal. After days of dry, flavorless food, the roasted meat nearly melted in his mouth. He finished before Samantha and kept his eyes on the people moving from tent to tent. Luc didn’t trust himself to make polite conversation when that smile and her earlier moan had made him hard and aching for her.
Samantha didn’t have the same qualms. She held up her last bite and glanced at him speculatively. “What kind of meat do you think this is?”
Luc paused and stared down at his empty plate. “It was red, so I’d assumed some kind of bovine. Though I didn’t see any cows as we entered.”
Samantha popped the last bit in her mouth and chewed slowly. “These people are all shifters, and the few we know tend to shift into apex predators. I wonder why they have a food tent at all. Couldn’t they simply shift and hunt their own food? For that matter, I haven’t seen any agricultural areas for growing plants or raising farm animals. Where do they get their supplies?”
“This realm is large. It would have to be to hold all the clans without them destroying each other. The few areas we’ve seen appear to function with limited purpose, so it stands to reason we simply haven’t been to the ‘breadbasket’ of their world.” He looked over at her. “Or they use magic for everything and the elders are significantly more powerful than we expected.”
“Magic cow chunks. Great.” She set her plate aside and glanced around with a frown. “Do you happen to have a napkin?” She held up her hand where a trail of glistening liquid lazily rolled from her index finger to the base of her thumb.
Luc hated wasting an opportunity. He met her eyes and captured her wrist, bringing her fingers to his lips. Her breath hitched, but she didn’t try to pull away. He swiped his tongue along the skin beside her thumb, licking the juice clean before sucking her finger into his mouth.
Her pulse raced under his hand, and Luc wished they were anywhere except a busy street. He released her, and she slowly returned her arm to her side. Samantha opened her mouth, then closed it again and shook her head.
“You’re a dangerous man, Luc. Let’s return these plates and see if anyone is selling clothes.”
Luc stood, unconcerned that his arousal was obvious to anyone who cared to look. Samantha left the plates on a side table stacked with other dirty dishes and led the way back into the bustle.
They found several tents with clothing, but Samantha passed the first couple to stop at one with two young women chatting in front of it. A tall brunette and a tiny redhead, both wearing loosely draped dresses over solid-colored leggings. The women stopped talking when Samantha reached the entrance, but she waved a hand at them.
“Don’t let me interrupt. I need time to decide.”
The redhead smiled. “Let me know if you’d like anything.”
Luc stopped outside the tent and leaned lightly against one of the poles holding up the fabric. Both women sent him appreciative glances, but he ignored them in favor of watching Samantha walk through the tiny shop touching each piece of clothing on display.
The brunette leaned closer to the redhead and raised her brows. “I heard he tried to use one of the artifacts against her, and she nearly died retrieving it from him. Their elders closed all the doorways right after.”
The redhead scoffed. “There’s no way Oren would act against the elders like that. Your information is flawed.”
Luc didn’t react outwardly, but he tore his attention away from Samantha at the mention of Oren and the artifacts. Somehow, he’d forgotten about Seth’s second gift to him. Not that the necklace would have done much good up to this point. With the relative vicinity this village had to Aecantha, Luc wasn’t surprised that they knew of Oren, but he also knew Keris had been alive and well the last time Oren had stepped foot in this realm.
The man had been too busy with his new mate and her kingdom to come back and assault a woman he respected. Not to mention, Luc and Samantha were currently carrying the only artifacts Oren had touched. At least he knew why Samantha had chosen this particular shop. He’d been too preoccupied thinking of the heat in her eyes to pay attention to the gossiping villagers. A mistake he planned to rectify.
The brunette propped her hands on her hips. “Well you explain why the doorways are suddenly closed again. And why haven’t we seen Keris? She usually makes it into town for the festival.”
“That’s a good point.” The redhead chewed her bottom lip. “When the traders came through yesterday, I heard them talking about skipping Aecantha all together because it wasn’t worth the hassle to deal with their latest changes.”
“Do you mean the wards or the new guards?”
She shrugged. “Both? I don’t know. They weren’t specific, but Keris always made sure Aecantha was open to everyone. She never treated the rest of the clans as subjects just because their elders were the ones who founded this place. Which is more than I can say about some of her kin.”
The brunette sighed. “I heard Aiden wouldn’t be coming back. Too bad. He was always my favorite at the challenge ring.”
Their conversation devolved into an argument about the most recent bought of challengers at the ring, and Luc met Samantha’s eyes. She absently tapped her fingers on the few things draped over her arm, and when he tilted his head toward the entrance, she nodded.
“Excuse me, miss? I’d like these items please. I have these to trade.” Samantha held out her hand with the last three crystals he’d made.
The redhead smiled and left her companion to see what Samantha held. Her eyes widened when she got closer. “What beautiful tokens. I’ll gladly take two of these in trade. Keep the last for yourself.” She winked and tucked two of the
stones into a pocket in her dress.
“Thank you.” Samantha put the last stone and the new clothes in her pack as the woman drifted away to continue her conversation.
She joined him outside but frowned at the shop as Luc escorted her away. “That was suspiciously helpful.”
Luc snorted. “This whole market is suspiciously helpful. None of the villagers seem wary of outsiders, and those two happened to be sharing the exact information we needed as we walked by?”
“Well, I was looking for a place to find some gossip. It wasn’t entirely happenstance. Then again, maybe our luck is turning for the better.”
He didn’t believe in fate, but luck was another matter entirely. The bond between them had been unexpected, but the power it provided appealed to him. The connection had quickly become imperative to him, like Samantha. And he wanted to keep both the woman and the bond for far longer than he’d anticipated. To his great pleasure, she seemed to feel the same way. How about that for luck?
“Maybe. Let’s find another helpful villager to direct us to the inn, if there is one.”
SAMANTHA
The delicious mystery meat had helped steady her, but Luc’s little trick with his tongue had thrown everything sideways again. She’d only just gotten her racing pulse under control when she’d overheard the two ladies mention Oren. Her eyes had darted back and forth between the women and Luc as she’d picked clothes at random. There hadn’t been obvious sizes, but Samantha wasn’t worried. Most of the choices had been dresses that draped loosely and used ties to create the desired shape.
So far, their adventure in this realm had been relatively danger-free. Their smooth path left her with a rising sense of anxiety that something terrible was coming. Even knowing the future didn’t help when all her visions of this particular future had ended poorly. She let Luc take the lead to find the inn as she tried to pinpoint why she felt suddenly vulnerable.
