Page 140 of Rebirth Of Order
Kyra’s arrival has Ethan losing his shit in the best ways possible. Alex was meeting up with…
“Nope, you haven’t agreed yet.” He closes the book in haste, and I gasp.Holy shit, I can read it.
“Deal, you have a deal.” Excitement begs me to pry his fingers from this leathery goodness.
“Excellent, as of now, you have access. Tomorrow may be different, but remember, you can’t look until then.”
It takes everything to sway me from interjecting, but a deal’s a deal. Besides, reading what little he allowed has raised my elation along with more questions. I find myself swaying side to side, thinking about sitting in my bed and diving into a world written byhim. Secrets, rumors, truths, more juicy information about those masking their intentions. All at my fingertips.
Who all has the privilege of viewing these? Does Caspian or Alex? Someone else?
Paige’s laughter carries from afar, and my head snaps to where she and Russ are seated. Her hand is on his shoulder as she retains a shit-eating grin. It’s all a show. Russ’s jokes are not that damn funny.
The overhead song fades on its last chord, and the woman’s voice seated beside Alex races after it. “Because you deemed it fit to have me in handcuffs. An action you regretted.” She bursts into a booming laugh along with him and his buddies.
My jaw slackens at the show. Sure, I’ve heard him chuckle, witnessed perfection when he smiled, but laughing? I didn’t think it was possible. And I’ve told him some of my best jokes.Maybe you’re not funny. But most of all, handcuffs?
Blaise clears his voice in a very non-subtle way. “You’re doing it again,” he announces, and I deflect.
“You asked for privacy so you and I can speak, I’m assuming there’s a reason?”
“Snappy, are we? I suppose it can’t be helped, but yes, I did. However, it’s not time yet.”
“What do you mean?” Pinching my brows, I watch as he pulls out another book.
“Trust me, you’ll know.” The tones of his eyes darken and swirl into themselves as Blaise blinks. It’s subtle, but had I not been focusing on their mesmeric shades like always, I would’ve missed it.
“Trust isn’t something–”
“Isn’t something requested, it’s earned, not gifted.Trust me, I know,” the pompous asshole mimes, and I titter.
“You get on–”
“I’m getting on your nerves. I know that too.” Before I can find a catchy rebuttal, he fills up the tip of his fountain pen whilst scooting over and facing me in full. “In two minutes, an event will happen and shake every fay who understands it to their core. You have a choice,leave or stay. One will result in–” Blaise pauses, glancing away then returning. “In questions without answers.”
“And the other?”
“You’ll be elsewhere dealing with it.” He shrugs.
“Uh huh. A soul shaking event and you want me dealing with it on my own? Let’s go with option one for two-hundred please.”
“Two-hundred what?”
Giggling, I say, “Nothing. It’s a mortal thing.”
He pulls out his phone, peering at the time and smirks. “Your two minutes are up.”
My lips part but instead of speaking, a wave of energy washes over me unlike anything I’ve felt since being in their realm. This isn’t an aura or magic shrouding me. There is a larger scheme, and its power is unearthly potent, hitching my lungs to a full marathon degree of wheezing. Digging its way through the small pores of my skin, it nestles in.
“Prick your skin and write your name. The bond is yours, for you to claim.”Swiveling around in search of who is talking, I see no one other than Blaise sitting beside me. His curious gleam searches mine, telling me I alone can hear it.
The voice repeats, and my movements are held captive, frozen as though Angie’s magic is in place, yet the rise and fall of my chest continues at an alarming rate. Chilled wind eases down my spine like melting ice, layering bumps along its path.What–is–this?I watch a fountain pen manifest out of pure energy.
Blaise moves closer, tilting forward as liquid builds over my lashes. “Remain calm,” he states. Yeah, easier said than done.
Swallowing a ball of air, I feel the hold tighten as though every bone in my body is being squeezed. I fight for a breath, but am denied its pleasure. Then all at once, a rush of vitality ruptures from my core, releasing me once our table brightens with a blinding glow and vanishes. A book now sits in front of me.
Even now I’m afraid to move, let alone talk, so I whisper, “Blaise?” Sweat beads along my brow.
