Page 30 of Compass Points
She didn’t pity Aiden, though. No one liked pity. She was just angry at his parents on his behalf. Sure, his father was the Norden Point, but she often saw other Compass Points with their children. The Vesten and Suden Points were both quite old, though they didn’t look it. They were never seen without their children and grandchildren around them. The Osten Point seemed to appreciate her solitude, but she also didn’t have children, so it worked out.
Even if Aiden’s parents married solely to try and raise the next Norden Point, it was never a guarantee. The Norden trials weren’t solely about magical power, though it was a significant factor. If her magic remained stronger than Aiden’s, there was a chance she, the groundskeeper and weapons master’s daughter, might have more of a claim to the next Norden Point title than he did.
His parents were never particularly happy, but she thought they’d be especially displeased with that information.
Chapter Seventeen
Though a heavily trafficked road due to its proximity to Compass Lake, the turnoff up to the mountains didn’t have a town or village. Most travelers ventured between Compass Lake and Sandrin, and Sandrin was just another half-day ride west.
Rose had awoken on the hard ground, screaming from another version of the same nightmare. She could still feel the Norden Point and the elder’s stare as she fled the room. She knew she would never be able to rid her mind of the images of her family. They had haunted her for ten years, but she had never had constant nightmares reliving them.
She could only blame her growing proximity to Compass Lake.
Her mood grew foul as she readied her horse to make their way up the mountain. They would make it to Suden house today. Compass Lake was just over the pass, nested high in the mountains. Something on her face must have given away her mood as they started the ride, the sun not yet visible over the horizon.
“We’re just here to make an appearance and use Suden Point resources to see if we can learn anything useful.” Luc’s words, interrupting her thoughts, held an uncharacteristic hesitation.
She still couldn’t look at him, especially after waking up screaming again. Would she see pity on his calculating face? Or something deeper, something she couldn’t name, but that she caught in his glance each time she woke from the nightmare?
She didn’t think she could handle either option.
“Don’t tell me you’re chickening out now, Luc,” Rose cut him off before he could say something stupid. “We’re nearly there. The plan will work. Our relationship will give me the cover to make you a weapon tuned to your magic. Then we can decide what to do about the mist.”
She could feel his gaze on her as they rode. It was the first time she’d acknowledged that she intended to make him a weapon. Though he’d told her not to take the custom order, just to come and evaluate for herself how much it would help, she knew he’d still need something. She didn’t believe that she could walk away and leave the continent defenseless, even if it turned out there was no way to help Tara.
It might be better to make him a weapon and leave. That would stop him from learning more about her powers and stop anyone from taking too much notice of the Suden Point’s current romantic partner.
“Do you know what to expect at the lake?” Luc asked.
She didn’t know at this point if it was even worth pretending. He knew she was hiding from someone. He was also, thankfully, unwilling to press her on it and jeopardize her weapon-making expertise.
“I’ll be fine,” she replied. She decided the best defense was a good offense. “How many Compass Points do you expect to run into today?”
She was right, and Luc switched from something that had started to look like concern to business and agendas.
“They should all be on the lake. The Compass Points have been sticking close to the power seats with the mist attacks. However, per our agreement, I don’t expect you to have to interact with any of them. My plan is for us to be seen stabling the horses and crossing the lake to Suden house. From there, we’ll rely on the nature of gossip to fill in the blanks.”
She nodded along. This should be easy enough. She’d have to stick by Luc’s side in public and follow him behind a closed bedroom door tonight.
Who was in Luc’s bed was a big deal. It could mean a lot for the Suden court. People cared if he would try to sire another Suden fae strong enough to be the next Suden Point.
Her mind swirled with the variations of the Suden Point she had seen. Luc, who wanted to know her and shared parts of himself and his magic? The man who had buried a thief alive without hesitation?
Rose bit her lip as she tried to remind herself why she hated the Suden Point.
She hated all Compass Points on principle. It was the Compass Point power and position that had led to her greatest loss.
Yet, just as she’d mentally chastised her customer for blaming the Suden Point for the mist plague, she chided herself for putting all of the Compass Points’ failings on him. Her logic about why she hated him was looking flimsy, at best. She needed to get ahold of herself.
Whether she was ready or not, Compass Lake would believe she was sharing a bed with him before the day was out.
She felt they’d been climbing back and forth along switchbacks for hours when they finally crested the ridge. She looked down and saw a sight she’d hoped never to see again.
Compass Lake.
A perfectly circular lake. It was indeed a marvel that it was naturally occurring. Though, “naturally occurring” was questionable if one believed in the rumored godly intervention in its creation.
Four beautiful houses stood at each point as if on a compass. Norden, Suden, Osten, and Vesten, each a spacious manor, large enough for the Compass Point, their family, guests, and formal event rooms. They were the leader’s residences and the official spaces for governing each fae court.
