Page 18 of Of Kings and Thieves

“That would be my wish.” Col sighed, running a hand through his short beard. “If my parents knew about the bond between the rings, they never told a soul that I’m aware of. They must have had a good reason.”

I bit my lip. “Is there any danger in using them?”

“Not that I can see. Do you sense some danger?”

My thoughts turned inward for a moment. All I felt was Col’s strong presence in my mind. “No,” I said finally, “but we should be cautious about who else knows.”

“So what does that mean for me and Killian?” Magnus joked, apparently still listening even though he’d been staring at the fire. “Going to get rid of us, tie up any loose ends by throwing us over a cliff? Since we know your secret and everything, I don’t know if you can trust us. At least not Killian.”

Ignoring Magnus, Col brushed a strand of hair out my face, gazing at me with a tenderness that made my heart ache. “You must know that you are the best thing in my life. This bond only makes me cherish you more.”

Tears stung my eyes as I leaned into his touch.

Col dipped his head, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. I melted against him, losing myself in the warmth. In this perfect moment, nothing else mattered but the two of us and the rings that had bound us together.

Except maybe my dizzying headache. I was feeling the effects of the day already, and it had barely started. When we broke apart, I leaned my head against his shoulder, trying to hide the thrum of pain.

Magnus sighed. “Col must really like you, Samara, because I’ve never seen him so intent on eating a person, and I’ve known him a long time.”

Remembering my night in the barn with Col, my face flushed with new heat.

Killian tossed another log on the fire, which popped with the new fuel and drew everyone’s attention to him. “Likely the rings were forged by the same craftsman, and an enchantment woven into them when they were created. I have never heard of such in Iron Deep, though.”

“Do you think they’re dangerous?” I asked Killian.

The firelight glittered in his eyes. “Hard to say, but if the king and queen of Iron Deep wore them for years and no one ever knew of the connection, it’s likely the bond is only meant as a link between the wearers.”

“Does it work on others?” Col asked, slipping off his ring and handing it to Killian.

The Deviant took the ring, and, waiting for me to nod my consent, slipped it on his first finger.

I waited, afraid of seeing Killian’s thoughts but also curious about what went on in the mage’s head. After a few moments, I felt a brush alongside my mind, as if someone was there, but it didn’t have the potency of Col’s touch. Instead, the feeling was like cold fingers feeling around my scalp. The hair on the back of my neck prickled. And then came a raw sensation, as if someone had reached into my brain and was trying to pry it open. I recoiled, my hands flying to my head.

Killian quickly removed the ring and handed it back to Col, concern etched on his face. “It appears the bond is only between the two of you.”

I shuddered, still feeling the ghostly fingers probing my mind. “That was... unsettling.”

Col rubbed soothing circles on my back. “We won’t try that again.”

“No,” I agreed.

Col slipped his ring back on, his expression contemplative.

“Perhaps those who wear them must also have another connection for the bond to truly work,” Killian said. “Since I don’t really know Samara, it was never going to let me see into her mind.”

We settled into a comfortable silence, the fire crackling in the background. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered after the failed experiment with Killian, so I focused instead on the warmth of Col’s body pressed against mine and the comfort of his presence in my mind.

As we sat there, hands still entwined, Magnus and Killian became engaged in a hushed conversation. Their words were lost in the gentle rustle of leaves and the snap and pop of the fire, but I could sense their urgency.

A shadow crossed Col’s face as he followed my gaze. He leaned closer, lowering his voice so Magnus and Killian wouldn’t hear. “They’re discussing how long it will take to cross the northern mountains and reach the eastern border of Iron Deep near Ravenfell Pass. Two weeks, at least.”

“Two weeks...” I murmured, my mind racing with the implications. With each passing moment, The Harrow’s ultimatum loomed larger, casting a dark cloud over us all. Surrender or watch Iron Deep perish.

A cold shiver ran down my spine as I thought of the potent magical artifact The Harrow now possessed—an alicorn horn. With such power in his grasp, he was more than capable of carrying out his threats. As much as I wanted to believe Col could stop him, doubts crept into the corners of my mind, a darkness that tried to take hold of me. In a world where The Harrow reigned, no one was safe.

“Samara?” Col whispered, clearly sensing my distress. Our connection hummed between us, but I deliberately pushed away my doubts, unwilling to burden him with my fears.

“Nothing,” I lied, offering him a weak smile. Just... be careful, okay?

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