She lowered her voice, keeping their conversation between them. Not that anyone was around, but this secret involved more than just her. “Sometimes, Des, Isa, and I provide help to those who don’t have a lot of options or, for whatever reason, can’t trust typical channels.”
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything, silently encouraging her to continue.
“The last time, there was a young mother, with two little ones, who needed to get away from their father because he owed some seriously nasty people money, and the debt was secured with a geas that allowed him to use the kids to pay it. When the mother found out, she was desperate to get the children safe. She had no extended family to turn to, and her husband controlled their finances, leaving her trapped. It wasn’t like she could appeal to the ones who set the geas, so we offered to intervene. Des and Isa did their part, and I did my thing. Together, we tried to figure out the best and safest way to get her and the kids out of his reach. The problem was, no matter which path we took, it left her, her kids, or both in danger because the one factor that remained constant was the geas.” Which wasn’t unusual when magical bindings came into play.
“What did you do?” he asked.
She wasn’t proud, exactly, but she sure as hell wasn’t sorry about her decision, not then and not now. Those children didn’t deserve to pay for their father being a selfish prick. Honestly, neither did their mother.
She held his gaze and lifted her chin. “I found the one faint path with a possible loophole and exploited it, changing the terms of the geas so the only acceptable payment came from him. Then I made sure every possible path led to it.”
“That couldn’t have been easy.”
“It wasn’t.”
Understatement of the year. She’d almost given up on finding a solution when one of the paths shared a glimpse of another crime, one that meant Isa could step in and get the name they needed so Des could pay the individual who set the geas a visit, which eventually created the loophole she used. Only then had she been able to twist the magical vow enough to set things in motion, like a karmic version of dominos.
He smiled, not with humor but with merciless admiration. “You’re wrong, you know.”
She arched her eyebrows. “About…?”
“About being broken.” She opened her mouth to protest, but he got there first. “You’re like a kintsugi piece.”
Not sure if that was a positive or negative, she asked, “Kintsugi?”
“It’s a centuries-old Japanese art form that showcases the beauty of imperfections in repaired pottery by adorning the mending cracks with precious metals.” He brought her fingers up and pressed a quick kiss to them. “I think you’re exactly who you were meant to be.”
A sweet warmth replaced the ache in her chest, and she let her weight sink against him, trusting him to hold them steady. She wanted to believe he was right. For the first time since she’d lost Thena, she wanted to believe she was who she was meant to be.
Chapter 12
Grayson
Grayson knew he was in real trouble, or more correctly, his heart was in trouble. The more time he spent with Cass, the deeper she drew him in and the more she fascinated him. Granted, it had only been a few days, but he had a feeling Cass was someone he could go the distance with, and if he was reading her right, she was feeling the same. While he was honored she trusted him enough to share all that she had, he found he was hesitant to reciprocate her courage. At least not today, when she had enough to handle with saying goodbye to her grandmother and dealing with her family. Later, though, he’d have to share because she wasn’t the only one who lived with family-induced guilt and the price it demanded. Hell, his story could hold its own against hers.
They came around the corner and saw that the gathering in the chapel had migrated outside. Clusters of mourners stood under the protective shade of trees near the building, talking in low voices. Others stood in the parking lot, preparing to leave, but it was the group at the foot of the chapel stairs that had his pace slowing to a stop. His gaze stalled on the man standing with Rhea and Elias. He wore his tailored slate-gray suit with an ease that hinted it was his normal attire. His short dark hair was streaked with gray, and his arm was curled around the waist of a stylish brunette a good fifteen years younger than the man’s sixty-plus years.
What the hell is he doing here?
“What?”
Grayson realized he’d stopped walking. “Do you know who your parents are talking to?”
She followed the direction of his gaze, and behind her heavily tinted lenses, her eyes narrowed in consideration. “No. Should I?”
“That’s Cole Burton,” he said without looking away from the small group.
Cass stepped in front of him, brushing a hand down his tie as if smoothing it out. “Sounds familiar, but I’m not placing it.”
He looked at her, his hands coming to rest at her hips as if he’d been doing it forever. “Cole Burton is the head of Burton Street Entertainment.”
She frowned and tilted her head, clearly still not understanding.
“He’s one of Vegas’s premier business leaders.” He gave her hips a gentle squeeze and lowered his voice. “He’s also rumored to be a possible replacement for Councilman Novak’s seat.”
Her frown disappeared as her eyes widened, her eyebrows rising above the rim of her glasses. “As in the Arcane Council, Councilman?”
“One and the same.” His gaze drifted back to the group, and he felt Cass follow suit.
