Page 84 of Curse of Darkness
Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around him from behind, burying my face against his back. “I’m here. I’m here.”
The first sob escapes him. Hard arms lock around mine, cradling them against his stomach. He suppresses it, locking it down tight within him, but I feel those rib-shaking heaves of breath.
Finally, eventually, they die down.
“How can you stand here with me?” he whispers.
“Because when I said ‘together’ I meant it.” I look up fiercely. “And because I know we’ll… we’ll find a means to ward that bastard deep down inside you again until we can excavate it. Kato said there was a way to get it out of you. Death must will it.”
He goes so still I half fear he’s stopped breathing again. Then the breath explodes out of him. “Vi, he’ll never let me go. He wants to stay here in this world. He wants to hunt.”
“Then we’ll just have to find some sort of motivation to convince him.”
18
The next morning, Finn looks up moodily from the mug of herbal tea in front of him when I enter the dining room. Thiago wanted a moment alone before he came down, and so I gave it to him, nervous exhilaration running through my veins.
Finn looks like he’s hardly slept, and a hint of a blush touches his cheekbones. “We need to work out how to mute this bond.”
Oh, gods. I stop in my tracks. It never even occurred to me—
“You… heard us…? Last night?”
He makes a gagging face. “No. Gods, no. I went and drilled with Andyrion for two or three hours, and when you started breaking through again, I got blind, roaringly drunk. As much as I love the two of you, I donotneed to know what you get up to. It’s disgusting.”
That’s a relief. I pour myself a cup of tea. “You sound jealous, Finn. Long time between drinks?”
Kicking back in his chair, he cups his hands behind his head. “I’ll have you know I could… have a drink anytime I wanted to.”
Dragging out a chair at the table, I rest my elbows on the table top and sip the soothing taste of peppermint. All is well with the world this morning and I don’t care what I have to do, I’m going to keep it that way. “Strange. I was of the opinion that it’s been a while since you’ve had someone in your bed.”
“What gives you that opinion?”
“Oh, nothing.” I shrug. “Just something Eris said.”
Finn’s eyes narrow. I can practically see the tip of his tongue pressing against his teeth, trying not to say it— “What did she say?”
This is almost too easy. “Girl talk. I can’t betray her secrets. What’s wrong, Finn? You look a little on edge…. Are you sure you’re not keeping secrets?”
Finn sits forward. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m in your head, Finn. There has been a stray thought or two slip my way. You can’t hide anything from me anymore.” I roll my eyes. “You’re practically one horse away from demanding she cross swords with you.”
Heat darkens his cheeks. “I’m trying to remember why I saved you from a certain treacherous father-in-law. Remind me again…?”
Plucking a bread roll from the basket on the table, I toss it at him.
He snatches it out of the air, scowling at me. And then a smile slips through. “Well, it’s good to see you laughing again. Even if it is at my expense.”
“Never at your expense.” I sigh. Finn’s the brother I never had. “You should tell her how you feel.”
Finn grimaces into his wine and mutters. “She knows how I feel.”
“She doesnotknow how you feel,” Thalia says as she sails inside the room. “Eris can read every minute quiver of a sword’s direction, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she’s utterly blind. Tell her how you feel.”
“Oh gods, there are two of them. I surrender.” Finn holds his hands in the air.
“No, honestly,” Thalia continues, “I would love to see—”
