Page 46 of Bound Paths
“I’m glad you figured that one out on your own. That’s one awkward conversation I can check off my list.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“You already knew?” Rose asked as Arie casually brought a forkful of eggs to his mouth.
“You actually think they’re bound?” Juliette asked at the same time.
Arie swallowed. “I suspected.” He furrowed his brow. “Luc confirmed it before he commenced his heroics with Aterra.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Rose said with absolutely no heat. She crossed her arms over her chest for emphasis, but it didn’t help. The empty threat made her feel better though.
“I already told you I’d spend my existence making it up to you. Did you not believe me?”His voice was decadent in her mind. She sat up straighter. Luc’s words were new, not ones she’d heard before. He was responding to her now. He could hear her words. The more she leaned into their bond, the stronger it became.
“Your threat needs some work. It sounds more like foreplay...and gross. We’re eating,” Arie said.
Rose flushed and took a sip of water to collect herself, focusing on the voice—his voice—inside her head.
“How does this work?”Rose thought back to him. She wondered how much he understood their connection versus how much they were figuring this out together.
“I’m not sure.”She could imagine his shrug.“So far, I’ve been aware of your extreme emotions when they’re about me. I hope the more we solidify the bond, the more we can choose.”It felt like they were choosing right now.
She had a million questions for him.“Are you safe? Were you captured by the Lady of the Veil?”
“We were…”Luc started.“But I’m fine.”
She believed him—and knew she would feel if he wasn’t. It would have to be good enough for now as conversation erupted at the table.
“It’s impossible,” Juliette said, glancing from Rose to Arie.
“I don’t know if I’m quite following what you’re saying,” Carter started. “But if it’s impossible, we should assume Rose and Luc can do it.”
“Thank you, Carter. You may have the last sausage.” Rose happily passed him the last piece of meat from the serving tray just as Arie reached for it. It was a double win as she also got to give Juliette an ‘I told you so’ smirk.
Carter immediately flushed at the attention and raised his plate to pass the meat back to his patron god. Arie swatted his hand through the air like he no longer wanted it. “I deserved that.”
“How do you know you’re bound?” Aurora asked, cutting through the clutter.
Juliette pointed with her fork at Aurora, emphasizing her enthusiasm that Rose and Arie answer the question while she continued chewing.
“I’ve…connected with him since he’s gone beyond the veil,” Rose said.
“Ew,” Arie offered.
“Not like that,” Rose said, but she felt heat rise to her cheeks as she remembered the feel of his magic against her skin. “Well, not totally like that.” Now, she wondered what was possible in the heart of her magic.
“What are you even saying?” Juliette said. “Do you hear yourself?” The Osten Point waved her fork at Rose. It was the most casual Rose had ever seen her. She’d be flattered if she weren’t unhappy with Juliette’s position. “The Norden Point cannot be bound to the Suden Point. You cannot connect with him—whatever that means—across realms.”
Aurora’s presence was somehow calming amid all of these strong opinions. She asked a follow-up question softly, but everyone turned as she spoke. “What is the connection like?”
Rose smiled, and the corners of Aurora’s eyes lit with understanding. Rose had said they had connected, referring to the time in the heart of her magic. Aurora had asked in the present tense what the connection is like. Maybe her ability to speak to Luc, mind to mind, was common among bound fae.
“I can speak to him in my mind,” Rose said. Her eyes remained fixed on Aurora. Her announcement was met with gasps from Juliette and Carter, so she hurried to explain to the rest. “Listen, I acknowledge what Juliette is saying. I really do. I’ve thought it more often than you have,” Rose said as she turned to the Osten Point. “You have to understand, on our journey to find Aterra—well, I guess before that—Luc’s magic had…formed opinions about me. It seemed dead-set on protecting and supporting me at every opportunity.”
Rose shook her head like she couldn’t quite believe what she was saying. But that wasn’t right. She did believe it. She knew what this was. Luc’s magic pulsed inside her. Juliette’s words reflected her self-doubt about its authenticity and what it meant. She had to confront the perspective—one that had so recently been her own. She had to acknowledge the truth of herexperience. Juliette and Aurora were giving her a path to do so in their own ways.
“His magic was very active on our trip,” Juliette acknowledged. Her words were a peace offering to Rose, encouraging her to continue.
“It was more than that. As you all shared your magic with me to face Aterra, how he shared his was different.”
