Page 21 of Compass Points
Luc raised an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“What did you just do?”
A slow cat-like grin crept across Luc’s face as he raised his glass to hers. Clinking them together he replied, “We’re definitely going to talk about this, but I need you to come with me first to talk to that group over there.” He tilted his head toward the group she’d identified earlier.
“You think the trader we’re looking for is among them?”
His cocky smile was infuriating as he replied, “I know the trader we’re looking for is that man in the middle.” Luc pointed to a large, burly man with warm beige skin in the center of the group.
“You’re absolutely right; we will talk about this.” She hopped off the stool, grabbed her drink, and wrapped her hand in the crook of Luc’s arm. Taking a deep breath, she tried to let go of her irritation with each step towards the group.
“Successful day?” Luc asked as the circle naturally parted to allow them access.
“Oh, good enough. I spent the whole day in the square and was able to lighten my load enough to head back home,” the trader said. “I’ll be back on the road tomorrow.”
“We haven’t had much other traffic through here. What brings you two?” asked a short woman standing at the trader’s side.
“Oh, we’re just passing through, too, headed down to Sandrin,” Luc replied before returning his attention to the trader. Reaching his hand to the man, Luc offered a handshake and an introduction. “I’m Luc; this is Rose.”
The trader clasped the offered hand, and the scent of Luc’s magic hit her even stronger than before.
Like the bartender, the man’s face went momentarily blank before snapping back to the introduction like nothing had happened.
Luc smiled and continued around the circle. He shook each hand and discussed the day. With every touch, she saw the split-second blankness before the conversation continued.
Finishing with the group, Luc looked like he would excuse himself to the bar for another round. She wasn’t quite sure what he was accomplishing, but she would find out. She reached down and wove their fingers together, saying, “One more round, darling?”
His heat-filled gaze stopped her in her tracks. She couldn’t remember what she was going to do. “Yes, love, I’ll join you.” He nodded to the group as they excused themselves.
She tried to sort herself out as they ordered another round. What kind of magic was he using? Earth magic couldn’t physically affect people like she’d been seeing, could it? She wondered about the old stories she’d heard as a child. Aterra, the patron god of the Suden, was said to wield mind shadow. There hadn’t been a Suden with these powers that she could ever remember hearing about. It was just another myth of the gods, not something real.
Then again, she knew more than most that the myths of the gods could certainly be real. Her fingers went to the compass pendant around her neck as she wondered, why not this one too?
She opened her mouth to ask…what? She wasn’t sure, but she was spared having to figure out what she’d say as Luc turned to her.
“We need to make one more stop, and I may need Arie’s help.”
“I know I’m on repeat, but again I ask, what the hell is going on, Luc?” She pushed the words out, despite her surprise at his request. She had so many questions she wasn’t even sure where to start. “What are we doing at one more stop? Hell, what did we do here?” she said in a harsh whisper while working to keep a calm smile.
He leaned in close, like the fake lover he seemed already pretending to be, his mouth inches from her ear. “We’re just making sure that they remember the right things.”
She could hear the smile on his lips at his words. He stayed close for a breath too long, her body humming with unappreciated anticipation. Her mind started to catch up with his words, trying to ignore the feeling that his proximity was causing.
He was trying to make sure they remembered the right things with magic.
He had to be talking about Aterra’s mind shadow.
Still dangerously close, he added, “I would lick your face while I’m here, but we’re in public, and I don’t think you want an audience.” Still smiling, he pulled back.
Heat rushed through her body at the thought of what he would do with his tongue without an audience, but she shook her head free of the all too different mind haze that his presence created. She had to keep it together. He was more dangerous than she thought if he could alter memories. What else could he do?
“You being weird isn’t going to stop me from questioning what we’re doing,” she replied as coolly as possible. She didn’t think Luc bought it as his eyebrow rose. Her face must look very different than her words.
“Should I ask them about gossip from Bury?” she asked to try and change the subject.
“Great idea. Why don’t you ask about that before we leave?”
They collected their refilled drinks from the bar and went back to the group.
