Page 41 of Compass Points
She pondered this. It was common enough to vote selfishly regarding matters between the Compass Points, but not on issues involving the entire continent and humans. The Compass Points had historically taken the mandate to protect humans very seriously. Any decision that seemed to take land or power away from humans to benefit the fae courts was shut down quickly. The fae were happy to take control or land from each other but not from those unable to defend against their magic.
Based on Luc’s solo mission to find her, she’d expected the Compass Points’ internal politics to be a mess, but she couldn’t believe it had gone this far.
“So you’re saying it’s not just the gods. The Compass Points have made moves to upset the balance between humans and fae too?” This made more sense to her. The imbalance wasn’t because of her. It was because the Compass Points were showing exactly how selfish they were, just as she expected. “You’re saying that we have no one to blame for the infestation of Nebulus but the Compass Points themselves?” Rose’s voice had started quiet, but elevated with each passing word. This was why she hated the Compass Points. That much power, and they couldn’t be trusted to act in the best interest of the continent. She really shouldn’t be surprised. But she found fury building inside her all the same.
She saw the pages of the open book start to flip and the drink in Aaron’s mug start to splash.
“And you, Luc, what did you do to stop this?” She stood, and she was yelling now. She felt her anger and power swirling around her. Luc was supposed to be better than her low expectation of Compass Points.
Luc looked at her as if he didn’t know her. The Suden Point appeared; Luc’s face hardened as he stood from the couch, placing himself between Rose and his brother.
“Aaron, why don’t you go downstairs? Thanks for your help with this.” Luc’s words came out calm, but his eyes never left Rose’s as he directed his brother to go. She saw the telling red glow flash across his irises; the power he pulled from his seat made the flash much stronger.
The lack of hesitation as Aaron left the room spoke of many years of obedience to his Suden Point.
The library door clicked shut behind Aaron while Rose and Luc stared at one another.
Luc’s steely voice filled the room as soon as they were alone. “Come at me all you want, Rose,” he whispered, rage filling every word as he spoke calmly and precisely. “I know I have failed this continent, but if you ever threaten my family with your power like that again, I won’t hesitate to defend them.”
Rose freed herself from the rage that had overcome her, locking her magic back up to focus on his confusing words. “I…” She paused. “I didn’t threaten Aaron.” She looked around. She’d been so focused in her rage against Luc, against the Compass Points.
“I know you don’t realize that you did. That is the only reason we are talking about this rationally instead of tearing apart the library, and not quite in the pleasant way I had previously imagined.” His power pulsed through the room as his voice found a way to threaten and tease her in perfect balance. His power pounded strong and seductive, reminding her that this was his domain. The mix of emotions was the distraction she needed to rein herself back in. She sat up straight.
“What’d you see?” she asked Luc.
“What I saw doesn’t matter, Rose. Honestly, it still confuses me, so don’t worry about your secrets.” He shook his head as he pushed his fingers through his hair.
“So you brought me back? With talk of a pleasant way to tear apart the library?” Her mind was going in a million directions, but a picture of Luc took precedence: pressing her against the bookshelves, his arms caging her body, his head pressed into the crook of her neck, nipping and licking its way across exposed skin. The books were strewn around them as they knocked the smaller shelves over on their way to the wall.
She needed to get a hold of herself. She shook herself free from the heated thoughts that his words conjured.
“Among other things.” His confident smile was back, though his whole body was still trained on her every movement, waiting to ensure she was defused, that his family was safe.
She coughed, straightening herself in her seat. “Will you tell me more, if I promise to react rationally?”
“As if you’re capable of that when my eyes are involved.”
Rose let out a snort at Luc’s reply. His posture softened, relaxing.
“Tell me, what have the Compass Points done?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Settling back in her seat, she watched him ready himself for a confession. She wanted to break this new tension between them. It was heavy and messy, she aimed to lighten the mood. “I know I’ve been living in the wilderness, but I think I would have heard of the Compass Points doing something to upset the balance.”
“It was small at first. I started seeing it in one of the first meetings after I became the Suden Point.” He paused again, weighing a decision she wasn’t yet privy to. “It might be easier if I show you,” he said, holding his hand out to her, asking her to take it. She sat up a little bit more at that.
“Show me—as in more than just a sample of feelings?”
His lips twitched up at the corner. “Yes, though I think you got more than I bargained for with that last taste.”
She smiled thinking of the final image of her face that had snuck in. “It’s possible,” she replied, and leaned forward. Her hand poised over his, teasing closer but not yet touching. “Do many people get to experience these extra gifts of yours?”
He gave a shake of his head. Her fingers slid over the open palm of his hand, a spark that had nothing to do with magic igniting between them.
“Why have you decided to trust me with them?”
His eyes remained locked on her fingers trailing up and down the length of his palm. His posture loosened as her fingers moved. A comfort eased over him, even as he was about to perform magic. Pine and cinnamon started to swirl around them as Luc replied, “You know why.”
