Rowan’s voice deepened and vibrated in the marrow of hisbones. ‘You are part of it, Thomas Grey. For good or bad, I cannot say. But you have a role to play in this.’
When Clio touched him, his skin flamed, but with Rowan, everything went still. His heart barely beat. Air slowly seeped from his lungs. He started to pull away, but she held firm.
‘Whatever you think ails you cannot be cured. You are not broken, therefore you can’t be fixed.’
Anger pulsed through him, bringing with it strength. Rowan was tearing away his shields and poking the raw flesh beneath. Clio didn’t have control when she was pulled into his memories and saw beyond the shield he so carefully erected, but her aunt knew exactly what she was doing. He ripped his arm free. Heat and life slammed through his system once more as time restarted.
‘I’m leaving now.’
He spared Lachlan a glance before quickly walking out of the office, racing through the narrow corridors, down the stairs, and out the back to Scotland Yard where he hired a hack to take him to the train station.
I am coming, Clio. You have a long and happy future ahead of you. And I’ll be damned if anyone tries to take that away.
Himself included. Rowan’s words wrapped like chains around his heart, squeezing tight. He hated that she spoke what he already knew. What was broken within him could not be fixed. And he would never damn Clio to such a life. But neither would he step aside and let anyone hurt the woman he loved.
Clio did not expect to see Thomas in the morning room as many of the guests gathered for a late breakfast. But neither did she think he would slink away in the middle of the night like a thief. She wasshocked when Cynthia approached her, sympathy rife in her frank gaze.
She pulled Clio close and murmured gently in her ear. ‘He left early this morning. He asked me to beg forgiveness of Lady Langley and tell her he was needed urgently in London for an unavoidable business commitment.’
‘Balderdash! The cowardly bastard,’ Clio hissed, uncaring if her coarse words shocked Cynthia.
On the contrary, the woman leaned back and looked long and hard at Clio. She might not have magical abilities, but Cynthia had the discerning intuition of a sister, and that could be just as powerful. ‘Something is going on between the two of you. You like him. Admit it!’
Clio opened her mouth to deny such an outlandish accusation, but she couldn’t. Because Cynthia was right. Damn her. ‘I have no interest in tying myself to any man,’ she hedged. It was an unfortunate choice of words. She might not tie herself to Thomas, but she’d certainly let him tie her to any number of things. And now she was thinking about those leather straps holding her helpless while Thomas ravaged her with his mouth.
Oh dear.
The fire that had been lit to ward off the morning chill crackled and popped ominously.
Cynthia’s eyes lit with mischief. ‘Really? Then I suppose you wouldn’t care to know that he is smitten with you.’
‘Exactly. I mean, no, I don’t care. Wait, what?’
Cynthia’s eyes sparkled. ‘He has fallen so hard, he doesn’t know it yet. But he will realise soon.’
Clio blinked, but the room didn’t disappear. This wasn’t a dream. And Cynthia’s words effortlessly dismantled her shields. She exhaled a long breath as her confusion gave way to something hollow and aching. ‘He can’t possibly…’ But she couldn’t say the word pulsing through her spirit with a resonant beat. Because she couldn’t sacrifice her magic for love. Even if it was the bright, stunning, breathtaking kind of love written about in the silly romance books Ellie sometimes read aloud to them. Even if it was for a man full of courage and honour whose dark desires could make her melt and whose gravelled voice resounded in her soul. She wouldn’t turn her back on her birthright just because she was stupid enough to fall in love with Thomas Grey. Her eyes widened as realisation dawned.
‘Oh, dear goddess. I’m in love with him.’
‘I know, darling.’ Cynthia’s smug smile did nothing to help.
Fear and joy were an odd combination, but both emotions filled her in equal measure. How could she have let herself fall? How could he have fallen just as swiftly?
How could we have done anything else?
It was as inevitable as the tide crashing against the shore, the wind whipping through the woods, the sun rising in the morning sky and setting in a blaze of colour.
Would he ask her to give up her craft? Would he twist her gifts into something he could use for his own gain?
Never.
The answer came unbidden, but powerful enough to cause a corresponding pulse of magic in her blood.
‘You really are the perfect match for him, Clio. And now I get to hope my false cousin becomes my true sister.’ Cynthia took both of Clio’s hands and squeezed them as Lady Langley entered the room and spied them near the buffet table. ‘Do not fret. His absence only proves how much he cares for you. He doesn’t believe he’s worthy, and so he thinks to spare you by leaving. But, if I know my brother, he also won’t be able to stay away. He shall return. I dare say before the day is over.’ She pressed her lips together as Lady Langley joined them, preventing Clio fromasking Cynthia if she knew the truth. The real reason Lissa had divorced her brother.
Oh, Thomas.
But that thought was quickly followed by another.
