Becausethe infirmary wasn’t in the West Tower.
Her best friend had just lied to her.
By the timeAraya reached the door to Jaxon’s workshop, she had almost convinced herself there was a reasonable explanation for Serafina’s behavior. She was a master-level Healer—that meant she did, technically, have privileges to access the upper levels of the West Tower. There had to be a logical reason for her behavior.
Araya paused when she heard voices inside Jaxon’s workshop, straining her ears. Kai…and Caylin. Wonderful. She glanced at the door to her own workshop, just a door down. It would be easy to slip inside and wait for them to leave, but she had just as much of a right to Jaxon’s time as they did. More, even.
Bracing herself, Araya pushed open the door.
Jaxon’s workshop was as grand as he was—high, arching windows bathed the space in golden light, illuminating the rows of shelves stacked with tomes, enchanted tools, and half-finished artifacts. From this height, the entire city sprawled out in front of them, offering a clear view of the towering curtain of shadows that loomed over the sea—the Shadowed Veil itself, dark and impenetrable, still guarding its secrets.
Jaxon sat at the scarred workbench, his head bent over a pair of fae daggers. Even from the doorway, Araya could feel the weight of the curse tangled within them—the sharp, strange taste of fae magic clashing with the dissonant hum of the amplifiers Jaxon was using to fuel his work, setting her teeth on edge.
Most cursebreakers would have at least reinforced their wards before dealing with a curse like this. But Jaxon hadn’t bothered—his hands didn’t even tremble as he wielded his etching tool, tracing delicate runes with confident precision.
“I’m just saying you deserve a break,” Kai wheedled, lounging on a stool beside him. “You’re working too hard. Everyone needs to havea little fun—we were going to make a night of it. You aren’t too good for a little drinking and debauchery, are you?”
“Harassing a cursebreaker while they work is a quick way to end up covered in a blistering rash,” Araya warned, setting her basket down on the low table. “Do you think the Gilded Lily will let you in if you’re oozing?”
“Araya!” Kai’s face lit up, his grin widening when he saw her basket. “Thank the Gods, I’m famished.” He darted around the workbench, snatching an apple from the basket and biting into it. “We’re trying to convince Jaxon to leave before sunrise—surely you can sway him.”
“You put too much faith in my influence,” Araya said with a laugh. Jaxon hadn’t so much as glanced up from his work, even as Kai loudly lamented his stubbornness. “We all know cursebreaking is Jaxon’s true passion.”
“Don’t bother, Kai,” Caylin snarked from one of Jaxon’s overstuffed armchairs. “Jaxon’s playing house now. Too bad it’s not with someone who knows the first thing about keeping one.”
“Actually, it’s from the Hearth.” Araya met Caylin’s glare head-on, her smile deliberately calm. She had hoped the human woman’s attitude would soften with time, but Caylin still hated her.
“Did you say the Hearth?” Jaxon looked up, blinking owlishly at her through the rune-etched spectacles. “I’m starved.”
He flicked his fingers, sealing the last of the curse beneath the web of reinforced enchantment he’d woven, tucking them back into their iron-lined box.
“See?” Kai threw out his arms. “You’re underestimating your power over him. He’s been staring at those for hours—it’s like talking to a statue.”
“I can’t tonight, Kai,” Jaxon said, shaking his head. “I have work to get done.” Araya’s breath caught as he circled the workbench and brushed a kiss across her lips. Aether sparked between them, the magic in her blood practically singing as his fingers skimmed the edge of her jaw.
Jaxon grinned wickedly at her when he pulled back, his dark eyes smoldering. “I missed you.”
“I guess that’s our cue,” Kai sighed theatrically, tossing his apple core into the bin. “You coming, Caylin? Or are you planning to stand there glaring at Araya all night? Keep it up and people are going to start thinking you’re jealous.”
“Of what?” Caylin spat. But she stood, making a show of smoothing the wrinkles out of her skirt before storming out of the workshop without a goodbye to any of them.
Kai grinned at Araya, utterly unapologetic. “Enjoy your work, you stuffy old scholars.” He gave them a mock bow before backing out of the workshop, closing the door behind them.
Jaxon, seemingly unbothered by the exchange, was already unpacking the basket onto the table. “I like that you get along with them,” he remarked.
Araya snorted, pulling out the plates and starting to load one for each of them. “I get along with Kai,” she corrected. “Caylin hates me—Mira tolerates me.”
Jaxon took his plate and sank onto the couch, kicking his boots up onto the low table. “Caylin is jealous.”
Araya arched an eyebrow. “Yes, because human women don’t like it when their men bond fae females instead of marrying one of them.”
Jaxon tilted his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. “She’s jealous because you’re twice the mage she will ever be. And it has nothing to do with you being fae and naturally having more power—it’s your determination. Caylin doesn’t have it. She never will.”
Araya flushed. She opened her mouth to argue, but Jaxon cut her off with a playful scowl.
“The only answer I want to hear is, ‘Thank you, Master Jaxon Shaw.’”
Araya set her plate aside, then took his from his hands, placing it on the table before swinging a leg over him and settling onto his lap.His hands tightened on her hips, his breath hitching as she dipped her head toward his.
