Page 33 of Compass Points
“My brother Aaron and his partner Andrew will be at the house with their kids. They moved here from where we grew up in the south a few years ago after our mother passed away.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” She wanted to ask about his father, but the pain was evident on his face as he spoke of his mother. He nodded at her condolence as he seemed to push down a wealth of emotion.
“The first few years of being Suden Point, I didn’t have anyone I trusted. I was already an outlier, taking the position at such a young age. So I didn’t turn him down when my brother offered to move here. They have rooms in Suden house, though they also have their own house off the lake. They tend to bounce between both during the day. I sent notice ahead that we’re coming, so they’ll prepare enough for us to join their evening meal.” He held up the bread. “We’re even contributing.”
“That sounds like a nice way to spend the rest of the day.” She could use the rest after the last few days of hard riding and camping to keep to their schedule.
They were well past Norden house now, though she couldn’t take her eyes off it. As they followed the smooth curve of the lake’s edge in the boat, her eyes darted up through the thick trees to the front porch. From the lake, one could easily see up the hill to the majestic house through the natural tree barrier. It was only from above that the house was truly sheltered from view.
A figure on the porch watched their progress. Though too far away to make out the details, she had no doubt who stood on that porch. She could sense his power from the lake.
This was the Norden Point.
She glanced down at Luc, who registered the weight of her gaze and looked back to what she’d seen. Noticing the figure on the porch, he gave the briefest nod to the Norden Point. He turned to look at her as if he’d ask her a question.
“What is your family like?” she asked him first. He shook his head at her, seeming to acknowledge her diversion. He looked thoughtful for a moment as he considered a response. She couldn’t help but notice how good he looked on the sunlit lake, his shirtsleeves rolled up and his forearms flexing as he paddled.
His casual power radiated through this everyday activity. No one watching him would mistake him for ordinary. No matter how at rest he seemed, he was a threat—capable of violence at a moment’s notice. Especially here, at his seat of power, on Compass Lake. His otherness increased with every stroke.
She felt his magic building around them as they passed Osten house and were on the final turn to Suden house. The smell of pine and cinnamon grew stronger. He seemed less able to hide his power the closer they got to his lake shore.
“I was always close with my brother and his family. He found a partner when he was quite young and started a family. My nephews are delightful terrors, three boys between the ages of five and eight. They give Aaron and Andrew new adventures every day.” He smiled to himself, another genuine one.
He must also be more relaxed at his seat of power, or maybe he was just more relaxed with his family.
He sighed and continued, “It feels more like their house than mine, but I’m fine with that. I spend a lot of time in Sandrin with our soldiers, so it all evens out.” He shrugged before concluding his thought.
It was out of character, even with her limited exposure to him. He was always annoyingly assured.
“When I’m here, it feels like a true family home, as opposed to some stodgy and lifeless seat of power.”
There it was. A subtle hint that he might not fit in with the rest of the Compass Points. The Compass Points she knew craved power and the prestige it brought. Luc didn’t thrive in a cold and austere Suden house. He didn’t like the secrecy and isolation of power. He’d rather make it a home with those he loved.
He was definitely in the wrong position for that. Though he hid this fact about him well with his scary, external persona.
It was also something she understood. In her time at Compass Lake, the Norden house had always seemed only like a seat of power. It was a thing to be revered, not a home in which to live. The cottage on the property, well, that was different. That was home, and it, too, was once filled with love and family.
“So, will they have questions about me? It doesn’t sound like you’ll be comfortable lying to them.” From the warmth in his brief description, she wondered if he was capable.
“I won’t enjoy lying to them, and I’ll try not to do it outright.” He sounded like he was convincing himself more than her. “It’s true enough that you are with me, and we are spending time at the house together. I won’t bother to correct any other assumptions they make.”
The fake relationship seemed so simple. She’d barely fought him on it, but the stakes seemed to rise with each moment they got closer to Suden house.
Chapter Nineteen
Rose saw the transformation overtake Luc the moment he stepped out of the boat. His eyes flashed red, and his spine straightened as the power of his home rolled through him. He stretched out his fingers and rolled his shoulders as he took a deep breath. She wasn’t even sure he realized how much he was luxuriating in returning to his seat of power.
Pine and cinnamon encircled her as he offered her a hand. She took it without thought, wanting nothing more at that moment than to lean into the power he was radiating.
What was wrong with her? They were in a fake relationship. She needed to keep focusing on the “fake” part.
He took her hand and wrapped it again in the crook of his arm as they made their way across the beach to the front door of Suden house. It was nowhere near as imposing as the Norden house, but Rose knew more than most how appearances could be deceiving.
The pathway from the beach to the front door was lined with shrubs and flowers. Someone spent a lot of time carefully pruning and caring for them. Not in a perfectly manicured way, but someone clearly had a love for the house and property that they poured into taking care of the land. It made her think of Dad as they walked through the deep brown double doors that opened warmly into a family room. She was sure this was an imposing receiving room to past owners, but Rose felt the family Luc had described in every feature of this home.
Luc led them right in. The place was his, after all. He may let his relatives stay here, but the power that radiated from him showed that this was unmistakablyhishouse. Rose took it all in. A staircase by the front door led up to a second story with a hallway overlooking the family room and additional hallways on each side. A tall, thin man with white skin exited one of the rooms, chasing three little boys with similar features as they came barreling down the staircase.
“Uncle Luc, Uncle Luc,” came the chaotic chatter of a family welcoming one of their own. She hadn’t thought it possible, but Luc’s face softened as three boys hurtled down the stairs, throwing themselves off the final step. She took a quick breath as the small bodies careened toward Luc. He had no chance of catching them all at once. Nearly stepping in to catch one of them herself, since they seemed to have so little regard for their safety, she halted as Luc gently touched her forearm.
