“I’m so sorry, Dusk.”
“Stop apologizing.” He turned his head so he could look down at her, his eyes luminous in the fading light. “I told you already. I’m not sorry the talisman bound us, Layla. Sure, it complicates our lives. Sure, I almost shifted for real and I have to endure the consequences. But you’re safe, and I’ll be fine. Besides, it’s fucking incredible what I can feel now. Like someone lit me up from the inside like a falling star.”
He reached out, stroking her cheek as he watched her with a small smile. Cupping her hand to his cheek, Layla watched him back, feeling that golden sensation pouring through her. His description of their Bind was just like she’d seen in her vision. And suddenly Layla wondered if they were cursed or blessed. She pushed up to sitting and Dusk frowned, then set his hands to the bed, pushing up also – though leaning back against the pillows.
“Did I say something wrong?” He murmured, his sapphire eyes watchful.
“I don’t know.” Layla spoke as her mind spun back to the things Rachida had said. “What if this Bind was just me, Dusk? Rachida said something to me earlier, that perhaps it was my power that bound you and Adrian. That it might have beenmy willwhich encouraged the talisman to act as it did, not the talisman itself.”
Dusk blinked. Still blinking, he settled back to the pillows. “Talismans magnify the wearer’s will. Fuck, I remember Rachida telling me that while we were searching for a talisman for you. I just never considered that a talisman could amplify yourBindpower.”
“Maybe it’s stronger with the Hamsa Bind talisman,” Layla breathed, something wary racing through her. “Maybe what happened with you and Adrian and I is stronger because of the unique nature of the specific talisman I bound you through.”
“Shit.” Dusk’s eyes had cleared to a keen diamond-sapphire color. He blinked, then let out a breath as his gaze tracked to Layla. “I told Adrian to not search for that thing.”
“But if it gives us all power, bound this close…” Layla set her hand to Dusk’s abdomen with the sudden feeling that she couldn’t bear to be parted from him.
“Adam’s going to want a piece of the action.” Dusk’s face had gone thoughtful.
“What?” Layla blinked, frowning.
“Adam.” Dusk glanced at her. “I saw his face in the forest, when you and Adrian were… exploring. I remember his eyes. A darkness like I’ve never known shone from Adam’s eyes as he watched you two. It was pure jealousy – like you were supposed to be his and not Adrian’s. He snarled under his breath up on the ridge. I thought he was going to rush down and fight Adrian for you right then and there, but he didn’t. But I’ve never seen Adam like that before. I’ve felt him jealous before, and lord knows I was too in that moment, but Adam’s reaction to you two being together was almost unholy.”
“What if my Bind powers are calling Adam also?” Layla breathed. “What if his reaction was because my power is calling him like it did you and Adrian?”
“Or what if it’s making Adam unstable?” Dusk gave a long, slow blink. Turning his head, he stared at Layla. “We need to talk to Adrian. Now. I don’t trust Adam to not unleash a full dominance challenge over this.”
“Not yet.” Layla pressed a hand to his chest. “You’re not well.”
“Are you going to be my guardian now, woman?” A small smile lifted his lips.
“Yes, if you need it.” Layla sassed him, smiling also.
“I might. Because if Adrian doesn’t buy our theory about your Bind powers being amplified by the talisman, calling Royal Dragons harder because of the nature of the cuff… he might just kill me for what happened last night.”
Dusk’s eyes were serious as he held Layla’s gaze in the settling evening. Layla returned the look, an understanding stretching between them.
“I’ll talk to Adrian.” She spoke, smoothing her fingers over Dusk’s chest. “He’ll probably take the revelation better from me rather than you. In the meantime, I’ll cover your shifts in Concierge, and we can talk to Adrian after the Samhain Masquerade.”
“Be careful.” Dusk trapped her hand to his skin. “You and Adrian wind each other up.”
“I’ll try to stay cool, I promise.”
But Dusk was serious, not about to let her go without impressing this lesson. “Please, Layla. Be careful when and just what you tell him. I really don’t want to be in pieces anytime soon.”
And though Dusk was teasing, he was also deadly serious. Worry shone from his eyes and Layla reached out, cupping his cheek in her palm. Smoothing her thumb over the midnight ridge on his outer cheekbone, she tried to smile. But it was her Dragon that bolstered her, swirling up with a roaring orange spice scent as if ready to do battle in the darkening evening.
“I won’t let Adrian hurt you, Dusk. He can fume and rage about this… but you mean too much to me. Just like I wouldn’t let you attack Adrian, either. So let’s find a better way to solve our current conundrum, huh?”
“What about Adam?” Dusk reached up, taking her hand, his sapphire eyes deep.
Thinking about Adam, about his clandestine nature and the darkness of his eyes when he truly showed himself, Layla felt her Dragon’s coils twist, raising a white-hot heat in her veins. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. And Layla suddenly knew that Adam was an outsider. He wasn’t hers; he wasn’t supposed to be. Layla’s magic had chosen Dusk and for whatever reason, it balked at the thought of binding Adam. For the first time, Layla could feel it deep inside her. A sensation that she would go to battle for both her bound men – but she wouldn’t go to battle for Adam.
“What about Adam?” Layla spoke as she stroked her thumb over Dusk’s smooth lips. “He’s hot… but I have a feeling my Dragon doesn’t want him.”
“Better for me,” Dusk smiled, though it was tired as he kissed her fingers. “I don’t want a fight with Adrian or Adam, and certainly not in my current condition. Speaking of – were you serious about taking my shifts these next few days?”
“Serious as a nun on Sunday.” Layla smiled. “You rest. Layla Price has got this. You always solve everyone else’s problems. Let me solve this for once.”
