Page 142 of Taste of Thorns
“Okay?” he asks me softly, the lines on his brow written with concern.
“Just fine,” I say, although my voice comes out a little hoarsely.
He inhales and I get the impression it’s to steady himself. He peers over to Beaufort. “Did you get the words?”
“Yes,” Beaufort answers.
“What did they mean?” I ask but he doesn’t tell me. Instead, he’s moving aside so that Beaufort can repeat the procedure. Beaufort’s shadows are warmer, spicier even. They make my skin and my chest tingle in an altogether different way, although a way that still has me curling my toes and biting down on my lip.
“Do you feel that?” he asks me.
I nod, because the emotions are too much and I can’t speak.
“Good,” he says, “we’re going to keep you safe, sweetheart.”
He kisses my temple, and steps aside so that Dray can take his turn.
Dray’s magic is erratic and skittish. There’s an energy to it that makes me feel like my chest is alight. He skips through the words, pressing his hand firmly against my ribcage.
“I like this,” he says, grinning. “A little bit of me inside you.” He winks.
Only Thorne is left, but he stays where he is on the other side of the kitchen, body pressed against the wall.
“I can’t,” he says before any of us can ask him.
“You don’t need to touch Briony for this spell to work,” Fox says.
“So you were just being a perv, Prof?” Dray asks.
“No, it’s likely to be more effective that way, but it isn’t necessary.”
“It’s still a risk. Leaving a piece of my magic in the maze to help her is one thing, letting my magic penetrate her …” He trails off.
“Like I said, I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t think it was safe,” Fox says, “but at the end of the day, it’s up to you.”
“And me,” I interject, “and I want you to do it, Thorne.”
This may only be some tracking device to ensure the four of them can find me over the next few hours but it feels more than that. Dray is right. I have a part of them sitting inside my chest, wrapped around my heart and it doesn’t feel right that the others are there without Thorne. I belong to all of them, don’t I?
His nostrils flare.
“Thorne.” I stride across the room, stopping only a foot in front of him. “We’ve done stuff together, and it calmed your magic. Your shadows didn’t attack me. They didn’t hurt me. I trust you and,” I steel my shoulders, “I trust them.”
“You’re sure?” he asks me.
“100 percent.”
He looks down at his hands, clearly considering his response, then slides the glove off his right hand. He stretches his arm out in front of him, letting his hand hang in the space between us and his fingers stretch towards me. He repeats the words the others have said and his magic rushes towards me. Maybe my instinct should be to step away but something keeps me glued to the spot, eagerly waiting for the moment when his magic hits my chest and forces it way down to my heart. Thorne’s magic is hot and powerful and it has me gasping.
“Briony?” Beaufort asks.
I nod. I’m okay. Thorne’s magic spins with the others around my heart and it’s weird but now that feels right. Now it feels complete.
Thorne finishes the words and lowers his arm, sliding his glove back on his hand.
“Thank you,” I whisper, noticing how his hands are shaking.
He stares at me for a moment with his dark eyes and it’s so intense, I have to break away and turn back to the others.
