Page 23 of Tangled Power
“Sounds good,” Rose said. “Thanks, Carter,” she added as she turned to the Vesten Point. She had a fool’s hope that observing her work with Juliette would warm him to the idea of her making his weapon. His hesitation told her she had a lot more work to do on that front.
He nodded slowly, his gaze tracking her as they returned to the campsite.
Rose pulled the compass from beneath her tunic again. When she lost herself in her work like that, she thought of Mom and desperately wanted to touch the one thing she still had from her. The compass was warm from the forge, and the needle spun as she held it in her palm. Their path hadn’t changed. Tomorrow morning, they would continue south.
“We’ll ride early,” she said as Carter and Juliette went to their separate bed rolls. “If the compass keeps us directly south tomorrow, we will probably hit a village.” She couldn’t remember their names but knew a few villages were on the southern road.
Rose looked to Luc, as the other two gave no indication they’d heard what she said. He shifted uncomfortably.
“What—”
“You’ve made great progress,” Luc said before she could get her question out.
She reached her hand out to his now that they were alone, intertwining their fingers. “We don’t know how much time we have. We need to work together faster.” She turned to face him. He looked like he would speak, but she cut him off. “Will you let me finish your blade?”
“Rose, we just established that you’re exhausted, and your forge went to sleep.”
“So, you’re not saying no because you’re afraid your power will hurt me?” Rose was tired. Too tired to dance around her real question.
Luc wiped his hand down his brow. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried,” he replied, “but I also acknowledge this is bigger than my worries. I’ll do everything possible to ensure my power doesn’t hurt you. Arie seemed confident it won’t…” His words faded.
“Occasionally, he provides helpful information,” Rose teased. She ran her hands down Luc’s chest, soaking up the contact. How badly she wanted time alone with him. They’d found their relationship footing just as they were thrown into this mess, with the entire continent depending on their success.
Luc’s gaze lingered on her hands as they explored him. “Arie knew that you’d want to evaluate everyone’s magic, and that I’d be as much a holdout as the others, though, I’d like to point out,my reasons are clearly different.” He scrunched his brow as he attempted to justify them. “Either way.” He shook his head, his hands fitting over hers as they stopped moving. “I won’t hold you back. We will be a united front in your approach to learning about the Compass Points’ powers—about how our magic will work together.”
Rose didn’t wait for him to finish. She leaned forward eagerly, her lips brushing across his. “I know you wouldn’t,” she said as they parted. She moved to his cheek and neck as her lips brushed feather-light over every inch of his skin she could access.
His hand wrapped around her waist. “The others could be watching,” he murmured, but didn’t pull away.
Who was that warning for? He hadn’t cared what the others thought. Was he still doubting she wanted to be tied to him this way in their eyes?
“I’ve already told them where I stand,” Rose said. “And they’ve made up their minds about our…alliance, as Juliette called it.” She nipped at his lower lip.
Luc glanced over her shoulder, turning her body slightly as he walked her backward to their joined bedrolls. Rose’s tongue began to explore his mouth as his hands cupped her face, repositioning them to give her a better angle. They were all lips and teeth and unable to catch their breath as they savored the first real moments of peace together since Rose became the Norden Point. Luc’s magic surrounded them—its signature scent was becoming one of her favorites. Knowing she was safe in his magic, she sank into the kiss as they fell to the bedrolls. She didn’t think twice about their landing, knowing the tendrils of his power would sweep them softly to the ground.
Luc trailed kisses down her neck as they tumbled, his magic slowing their descent, and she enjoyed every extra moment. Reaching her fingers to run through his hair, she returned hismouth to hers. His hard length pressed against her belly as he landed on top of her. Her heartbeat raced, wanting nothing more than to wring all the pleasure from this moment that she could—for both of them.
A scream broke through her thoughts. Shifting Luc, she lurched up, scanning the area, listening again for the sound. His body went rigid, his magic sprawling, seeking out the danger.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, as if he couldn’t identify a problem.
“You didn’t hear that?” she whispered breathlessly, her gaze still searching the surroundings.
He looked genuinely confused. “Hear what?”
“I thought I heard—” Rose cut herself off and stood. Her gaze landed on another figure in the distance, facing the same direction from which she could have sworn she heard the scream. “Give me a second,” Rose said as she got up and jogged toward the figure: Juliette.
“Rose?” Juliette asked as she approached.
“Did you hear that scream?”
Juliette sucked in a breath. “I was afraid of this.”
“What’s going on? Does someone need our help?”
“It’s too late to help them. The mist has taken the village south of here.”
Her bewilderment must have been written in her features, as Juliette continued without Rose even attempting to put her questions into words.
