Page 22 of Compass Points
Rose finally found a natural break in the conversation to ask, “Did you hear what happened up north in Bury?” All the eyes in the circle seemed to snap their focus to her.
“Yeah, terrible thing,” replied the trader, who couldn’t help but tell his story, even though she was sure everyone in the room had heard it. “I was coming past the village of Bury. It had to be right after it happened. I planned to stop there but could see something wasn’t right.” He paused, shuddering before he went on. “Don’t have to be fae to know that the dark mist hanging over the ground is bad news.”
She went for the direct approach. “Did you see anyone not affected?”
“Not affected? What do you mean? As soon as I realized it was one of those mist villages everyone has been talking about, I hightailed it out of there. I didn’t see anyone else until I got here.”
Rose wasn’t sure what to do next. Luc had mind magic. This confirmed it. She looked at Luc, reappraising him. He was dangerous, certainly, but it was also incredibly impressive. Her magic allowed her to sense the magic of others to help tune a weapon to their specific strengths. She’d known he was powerful when she met him, but it’d been so long since she’d been around fae she didn’t have a good comparison of how powerful he truly was.
Luc held her gaze for a second too long before picking up her dropped conversation thread with the group. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, we’ve had a long day of travel and, unfortunately, more tomorrow. I think we’ll take our leave for the night. Thank you all for the welcoming conversation.”
The trader laughed behind them as they turned to walk away. “No way is that couple going to their room to sleep, if you get my meaning.”
The group laughed as Luc led Rose back to the bar, where they got a meal and a room. Apparently, they had already started their fake relationship, and their audience believed it. She wasn’t sure what to make of that since they hadn’t really been trying.
She couldn’t think too long about their fake couple status as they entered their room. Rose barely took in her new surroundings as she swung around to face Luc. “Explain yourself. No more deflecting.”
He gave her his patented half smile, indicating that he had as many questions to ask as she did. “How did you know I did something to the bartender?”
She tilted her head. She was caught off guard by his question, and she replied far too honestly. “I can smell your pine and cinnamon magic, and what you did down there was very different than the earth magic you threw around yesterday. So start talking.”
His smile turned predatory as he stalked forward to her.
She closed her eyes, disbelieving her own stupidity. Still cursing herself, she inadvertently stepped back as he moved, finding the door at her back.
“You must have misspoken. Magical weapons makers can feel magic, but I’ve never heard of them smelling it,” he crooned as he caged her with an arm on each side of her body. He inhaled deeply, leaning in as close as she’d allow.
“Ugh.” She pushed him back with both arms on his shoulders. “Don’t smell me. You know that’s not how this works.”
“Can you blame me?” He seemed pensive.
“I’m not using magic. You won’t get a scent.”
He rubbed his hand down his face. “I missed even more about you than I thought yesterday.” Shaking his head mostly to himself, he said, “You can be quite distracting.”
She didn’t know what to make of that. “You’re right. I misspoke.” She didn’t think he’d buy it, but she’d been an idiot and was out of options.
Ever the predator evaluating his prey, he tipped his head, respecting her personal space since she pushed him.
“Oh no, Rose, I’m not letting this go. You’re fae. I just don’t know how I missed it.”
Chapter Thirteen
Rose froze.
She knew she’d made a terrible mistake but hadn’t been prepared to hear it stated so boldly. No one had called her fae in ten years. Not even Arie acknowledged it, though she was sure he knew.
Luc’s gaze hadn’t left her face at his declaration. He watched her every move. Her eyes shifted around the room. She was blocking the door; a window directly behind him was the only other way out.
What was she thinking? She wasn’t going to run. She’d known this was a risk of coming with him. Arie had even warned her. They’d guessed Luc would figure it out, but she’d decided it was better than drowning in her own guilt.
He’d just figured it out sooner than she hoped, thanks to her own stupidity.
She rolled her shoulders back, straightening her spine. “So?”
“You’re not going to tell me how I missed it? Do we need to worry about others at Compass Lake realizing it?”
She sighed heavily. “You know as well as I do that it takes time to learn a fae’s magical scent.”
