She narrowed her eyes. It was like he wastryingto put on a show—the forearms, the soft sweater that she’d like to steal, and how it molded perfectly over his wide shoulders. His expression didn’t waver. Calm, patient, and ready to schedule all her time locked in a room with him.
“No.”
“You’re woefully uneducated on all things magic and knownothing about the Deathlands. Your lack of knowledge is dangerous and needs to be remedied.”
All true.Still, she said nothing.
His frustration snagged her attention with a jerk behind her navel. “You do realize you’ll be working with me indefinitely as you search for the talisman.”
“I can do it myself,” she gritted out.
He ignored her. “You wanted all my resources, andIam one of those resources. Use me,” he taunted, his burning cobalt gaze settling on her. She wanted to punch him. The corner of his mouth lifted like he knew she wouldn’t dare.
Fuck.She needed to get a grip. Immediately.
Likely sensing her imminent fold, Aidan slowly walked over. She balked, backing up against the nearest counter. “What? What are you doing?”
Stopping right in front of her, his low voice gained an edge of mirth. “Calm down.” Without touching her face, he brought his fingers close to her skin, gesturing for her to turn her chin, but she didn’t move.
Inches apart, she could smell traces of bergamot and citrus mixing pleasantly with the warmth of his skin. Trapped and addled by his scent, she held still. His mouth curved all the way up now. “Turn. I want to see.”
A rush of blood flooded her face as she complied.
Hands on either side of the counter, their thighs brushed as he studied the leaves trailing down her ear. Elysia barely breathed as his perfectly combed yet somehow perpetually misbehaving hair fell out of place, tickling her skin.
“First lesson. Magic is sentient and impossible to understand. The skull and dice is the mark that usually appears when I make business dealings.” His thumb grazed the shell of her ear, and she closed her eyes. “This isn’t from me. The fates answered my petition. A little gift, I suppose.”
“A gift?” The words barely passed her lips. He was so close. Too close.
“Poplars grow near the water here, much like in the mortal realm. A long time ago, mortals would fall through their waters into mine. It seems they were feeling traditional.”
“You mean to say I can travel?” Excitement cut through her nerves—traveling would make her work so much easier.
“You’ll need water,” he responded, looking down at her.
Slow understanding took root, her excitement fading. “You’re saying I’ll have to jump intowaterwhenever I need to get back here? What about place to place in the mortal realm?”
Frustration added depth to his usually smooth tone. “Traveling between realms is an enormous magical toll. There’s a reason it’s practically unheard of for mortals. The fates gifted you this because it's outside of my skill set, but being who they are… They never make anything easy. I assume any body of water will do for getting back to the Deathlands from the mortal realm. I’ll verify with Maya about traveling from here to there as well as within the mortal realm.”
“How symbolic,” she muttered. What a pain in the ass it would be to need to find abody of waterto escape if necessary. Good thing she’d been getting in and out of tight spots for years, no traveling required. She paused, his comment replaying in her head. “What if Maya trained me?”
Aidan’s response was flat and fast. “No.”
Her eyes grew bigger in exasperation. “You’re right—I don’t know anything about magic, or talismans, or how to go about any of this, but shouldn’t my learning be more important than who teaches me?”
Aidan’s jawline came into focus as it tightened, but just as quickly he rolled his shoulders and offered a compromise. “If you’re uncomfortable training with me, then you can train with all of us. Myself, Maya, and Grim. But it is necessary for me to be a part of it—you’ll have duties for the realm.”
She frowned. She wasn’t sure she’d have time forchoreswhile searching for his talisman.
“Grim?” she questioned. She remembered seeing him duringher first visit but hadn’t spoken more than a word to him that day.
He nodded. “Grim and I rule together. He directs the reapers and manages death while I care for the dead and the state of the realm.”
Elysia’s brain broke. “But you’re the only one everyone knows about? The temples, the petitions…”
Aidan appeared pained, which didn’t surprise her given that in the short amount of time she’d been awake he’d yelled no less than five times thathe’d be in his office, which was then followed by a slamming door. He didn’t seem like the social sort, much less someone who would be comfortable being worshipped.
“Yes, I drew the short end of that stick. Nobody ever bothers him.” He looked wistful before his face settled into practiced acceptance.
