Page 16 of Of Kings and Thieves

Quickly, I recounted how I had gone back for it, learned its fate, and tracked it down. And then how I had put it on when the Deviant attacked. Throughout my story, Col’s eyes were narrowed, but he didn’t comment on the foolishness of the errand.

Col glanced at Killian. “Could it really be the ring?”

“Perhaps.” Killian looked thoughtful.

I stared at the ruby ring on my finger, the metal warm against my skin as if it had a life of its own. “Let’s test it, but start with something easy.”

“Like what?”

“Think of something simple,” I said. “A number or a color.”

“Done,” he replied, his gaze focused on me.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the connection between us, trying to tap into whatever energy had allowed our thoughts to intertwine. It was like reaching for a delicate thread in the darkness, one that could break or slip through my fingers at any moment. And then, suddenly, it was there—a whisper of a thought, fragile but unmistakable.

“One hundred and three,” I breathed, opening my eyes to find Col looking at me in astonishment.

“Correct,” he confirmed, awestruck. “How did you...?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling my heart race with exhilaration. “But let’s try something else. This time, I’ll think of something and see if you can pick it up.”

“All right.” Col nodded.

I thought of a word: raven. It seemed fitting, given Col’s tattoo and ring. I realized I had never asked him about the significance. Holding the thought in my mind, I waited for Col’s reaction. After a moment, his face lit up with surprise.

“Raven,” he uttered softly, amazement in his voice. “You were thinking of a raven.”

“Yes,” I whispered, barely able to contain my excitement.

Col was watching me with an unreadable expression. “Are you all right?”

“Just thinking.” I twisted the ring. “This is...”

“Madness,” he finished with a wry chuckle. “Utter madness.”

“We can read each other’s minds.” The words sounded absurd even as I said them aloud. “Let’s try removing the ring and see if the connection breaks.” Without waiting for an answer, I slid the ruby off my finger. As soon as the metal left my skin, I felt the delicate thread between us snap, like a connection severed.

“Try thinking of something now,” I said, though I already knew the result.

Col nodded and seemed to concentrate, but I sensed nothing—no whispered thought, no fragile link. The connection had indeed been cut.

“Nothing,” I confirmed.

“Then it must be the rings,” Col concluded, his gaze drifting to the raven ring on his own finger. “What if we try this with my father’s ring? Maybe it’s not just my mother’s that has this ability.”

I slipped the ruby ring back onto my finger and felt the renewed presence of our connection, a warmth that hummed through my body. Col hesitated for a moment before removing his father’s ring, and once again, the connection disappeared.

“Definitely the rings,” he murmured, taking my hand and pulling me close. He brushed his mouth over mine in a sweet, lingering kiss.

When we parted, I kept my eyes closed for a moment, reveling in the feel of Col’s lips and the intimacy of sharing that kiss through our bond. It was strange yet wonderful, and I found myself craving more.

More of what, exactly?

I opened my eyes with a start, heat creeping into my cheeks. Col regarded me with a knowing look, a teasing glint in his eyes. “What was that? I didn’t quite understand you.”

“Nothing,” I said quickly. Too quickly.

“Really?” Col arched a brow. “Because for a second there, I felt—”

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