Page 30 of Tangled Power
“You really do owe the child an apology—” The older fae’s words cut off. He must not have known to whom he spoke. He did now. Luc was too damn recognizable in this place. This Suden was older, an adult. He was tall, and his skin was brown. Luc looked at him as his words dissolved. There was a fierce pride in his green eyes. He was smart enough to speak more carefully now that he knew who Luc was, but the fire in his gaze said he didn’t regret his original words.
“I do,” Luc replied. “Unfortunately, he left too quickly. I’d guess he was uninterested in my apology once he realized who I am.”
“Are you surprised?” The fae replied wryly.
Luc laughed. The reaction was expected. However, he was delighted by this Suden’s commentary on it. “I am not,” Luc said, glancing around. The inn was still within reach, but this fae’s honesty was refreshing.
“Why are you here?” the ever-impertinent fae asked.
Luc always made himself available to the Suden. And in eight years, no one had spoken to him this way. Members of his court had sought him to ask for things, to make him aware of their concerns—but all with a deference he couldn’t overcome. Not when the mark of his power hung so heavy in Loch. “Not many would think it’s their business to know what the Suden Point does,” he replied.
The fae shrugged. “You’re known to make time for the Suden, no matter how much they fear you. I find it unlikely one who does that would kill me for asking a question.”
Luc’s lip tugged into a smile under his hood. “What’s your name?”
“Darren,” the fae replied.
“How long have you been in Loch?” Luc asked. He thought he was familiar with all the residents.
“Only since yesterday. I used to live in the village just north of here…” Again, his words cut short. Luc wondered how many taken by the mist plague were those Darren knew and cared for.
“I’m sorry,” Luc said and meant it. “I wish we could have been there in time.”
Darren shook his head. “All that matters is what you are doing to stop it.” His fierce gaze held Luc’s again. “Gossip is already spreading through the village that the new Norden Point is leading you all on some journey. Will it stop the mist?” Darren’s tough exterior cracked. He was no longer the brash fae who talked back to the Suden Point; worry lines showed on his face, and his fierce gaze fractured.
Luc’s eyes held his as he replied. “We’re doing everything we can. Correcting the imbalance on the continent, causing the mist plague, is our top priority. We will stop it and return those impacted from their sleeping state.”
The fae appraised him, weighing his words. It was clear to Luc he wanted to believe them—he wanted the reassurance they offered. If he knew the stories of Luc’s power, hopefully, that was enough to help him believe Luc could deliver.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Darren said, offering his hand.
Luc shook it. The moment his hand connected with Darren’s, his power flared. He pulled it tightly to him, leashing it before it did more harm than good. He tilted his head, seeing Darren in a new light. He had not tested this fae. He didn’t have to wonder what the results would be if he did. “I look forward to you visiting me at Compass Lake when this is over.” Luc nodded at Darren, whose eyes had widened at the not-quite request from the Suden Point.
Her footsteps echoeddown the hallway. He knew it was Rose. Were her footfalls intentionally loud to warn of her arrival? Guess she figured out what Loch was to him, then. She was more than entitled to be furious. He’d made a bad call and could do nothing about it now.
Grovel, maybe.
His magic pushed against his skin. Running from him? Or straining for her? It could be either. Awaiting her judgment, he continued to flip his throwing knife back and forth in his hand, catching first the handle, then the tip of the blade. Each time he grabbed the sharp edge, he called his earth magic to steadyit. The game was mind-numbing, but it helped focus his power. He’d been lying on the bed doing this since he made it to the inn.
He hated Loch.
Maybe he should be ashamed that he was hiding from the village—he wasn’t. They didn’t want to see him, and the feeling was mutual. No, what embarrassed him was that he hadn’t shared why he hated it with Rose before they arrived. Juliette had surely told her. She had looked entirely too self-satisfied when he left them in the square. He tossed the knife again, catching the handle, resolving to do better. Rose deserved better.
Their eyes locked as she opened the door. She hadn’t even knocked. He liked that—liked that she believed this was her room as much as his. Even though?—
“You let Carter get us separate rooms?” she asked, cutting off his thought. She looked far too appealing as her hand moved to her hip, and she closed the door. If only he hadn’t been such an idiot, they could talk about how good she looked and what they could do now that they had a bed instead of mats on the ground. This was just further punishment for his stupidity.
“That’s what you want to start with?” Luc asked, his eyebrow lifting as he caught the blade’s tip on his next toss.
She sniffed the air as he spoke, probably wondering why his magic was so thick here. Her lip curled into a smirk at his words. He couldn’t help the breath that escaped his lungs or the way his jaw unclenched. He had hoped she would understand his lack of communication, but her smirk proved it.
He still owed her an apology, though. “Rose?—”
She cut him off. “What do you think I should start with, Luc?”
He rubbed his hand down his face, pulling a full smile from her, no matter how hard he saw her try to fight it. “I don’t know, maybe why I didn’t tell you what Loch means to me?”
Her teasing smile was gone, and her gaze softened. This face was more vulnerable than that of the newly instated NordenPoint. He had hurt her, which was the absolute last thing he’d intended.
