Page 25 of Fractured Souls
Dean and Desmond were on watch and a bit more serious, but overall they seemed to be enjoying the celebration. Adriel was telling them tidbits about the kingdom while also ensuring I ate. His warm, rough hand wrapped around my waist had me feeling far more grounded than I had during the ceremony—although that explosion of power had been absolutely unreal.
Something had fundamentally changed inside of me…I just didn’t fully understand what.
Finally there was Cash, who was currently moving across the room towards me. I’d slipped away from Adriel to grab a drink a few seconds ago, and I knew exactly what the grumpy look on Cash’s face was about—he wasn’t happy that I’d left the table without one of them.
His overprotectiveness was in part because of everything that had happened over the past few years, from our separation to Toris’s bullshit, and I could honestly hardly blame him, but he’d gotten more and more worried about my safety as time went on. I both loved and hated it. The last thing I wanted was for him to be stressed over something we were already doing our best to handle.
“Hey handsome,” I said as he finally reached me. Taking a final sip of the champagne I’d been drinking, I let out a giggle as he pulled me into him, his backwards steps taking me to the edge of the dance floor. We stepped into the crowd, and no one seemed to find it odd that I was dancing with someone who wasn’t Adriel. It wasn’t even in a weird ‘let’s not look over or talk about it’ way—friendly smiles and warmth were abundant in every expression I clocked.
“I know it’s safe here, but I still worry,” Cash said, holding me tight against him as we moved across the dance floor in a flawless waltz. I wasn’t surprised he could still dance well—after all, we had all taken dance lessons together.
I couldn’t remember whose idea that had been…I was going to guess it was Jeanie’s. When we were young, she was constantly signing us up for shit to make up for her lack of interest in our day-to-day lives.
“A lot has happened to make you worry,” I agreed as he dipped me back and brushed a kiss over my lips. A beam of moonlight caught my eye, and when I looked up the ceiling was opening to reveal a cloudless moonlight sky featuring waves of bright lights. Everyone around us made appreciative noises, and the hall that the celebration was being held in suddenly turned into something far more magical.
Cash and I froze in place as fabric was laid over the open ceiling, appearing out of nowhere. It shifted in the wind, still letting the light through but softening the edges. A gentle fog filled the hall and the music increased in intensity, the purity of the melody giving me shivers. When my gaze moved to Adriel, I found him already watching me, waiting for my reaction.
I couldn’t help but smile, realizing that he had just made that happen.For me.
Cash pulled me against him and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead before the waltz started back up. He turned me easily under his arm, and I noticed my skin shimmering under the moonlight, almost like my star form was trying to break out. My magic was recognizing its connection to the realm, and I could feel in my soul that this place was fundamental to the heart and source of my power.
It felt like I had a deep well of magic to pull from, more so than ever before, and it was clear that if there was ever a place to train—it was here.
“You like it here,” Cash noted as our movements turned more into a soft sway.
“I feel connected here. I don’t really understand it, especially because I’ve never been here…but it feels right.”
Cash’s brows knitted together. “Have you ever thought about trying to find your family, or more information about your parents?”
“Not really,” I admitted softly. “I don’t need to. Even if they were here or in the Kingdom of Day, I have my family. I have you guys—have from the start.”
Cash’s eyes filled with warmth as he nodded in understanding. Out of everyone, Cash would understand. It was hard to remember sometimes that he wasn’t a Reid by birth—not that it mattered. In fact, the only thing that really mattered was the family you built around you, whether that was blood or not.
Before he could respond, the clearing of a throat had us slowing and we both looked to find one of the advisors standing at the edge of the dance floor. I couldn’t remember his name, but he hadn’t been someone very important—not one of the originals appointed by mymaité anam. Which was such a fancy title, for the record.
But really I could tell in the way Adriel had glossed over him that he wasn’t someone significant. Plus, he looked far younger…although that really didn’t mean anything. He could be thousands of years old, for all I knew.
“What?” Cash rumbled, keeping me close.
“I was wondering if I could have a dance,” he said casually. His eyes were filled with warmth…but something was off. I tried to poke at his desires, only to be met with a solid wall.Not good.
“No,” Cash said immediately.
The man’s jaw clenched. “Fine. Lorcan, can I talk to you off the dance floor?”
Normally I didn’t care for titles, but the way he said my name, purposefully excluding my newly earned title despite the literal crown on my head…it was just weird, especially when everyone else was so friendly and respectful.
That was the real problem here—my instincts were telling me to be cautious.
Inhaling, I nodded, deciding that if Adriel trusted him enough to be an advisor, then I could trust him enough for a conversation. Cash and I followed him off the dance floor and into a side hallway that was separated by stone arches and provided a sense of privacy. My gaze darted to my men, all of whom were engrossed in conversation. While I loved that they trusted Cash and didn’t feel the need to keep eyes on me, right now…right now I felt like it would have been a good thing.
“What do you want?” I asked. Cash stood by my side, leaning against the wall behind us as the man paced back and forth.
“To talk to you in private, for one.” He shot a pointed look at Cash.
My mate chuckled softly. “No fucking chance.”
“Fine,” the man snapped. Instantly he straightened up, and his power expanded out just enough to wrap the three of us in a bubble. I repressed the urge to fight against it, but my siren let out a growl and got into a battle stance, ready to lash out at any moment. Cage ran a hand up my back, both of us trying to appear unworried.
