Clio needed to get ready for dinner, and Anna only let her go because Sir Robin stayed to watch over Anna. Clio’s familiar understood the gravity of his assignment, and while Clio was sure he missed the treats Cynthia snuck him from the table, he was willing to make the sacrifice until Anna’s mother returned.
She had just finished dressing and dismissed her maid when the door creaked open.
Thomas stood with the hallway light behind him. He still wore his greatcoat, and his boots were dusty with travel. He tapped his silver-tipped cane on the floor. She was reminded of the first time she saw him in Viscount Beachley’s home. He was just as breathtakingly handsome as that fateful day, but far more dear to her heart.
‘Finally,’ she breathed before rushing across the room and claiming his mouth.
He sucked on her bottom lip, his teeth scraping over her skin as his fingers tugged deliciously at her hair.
It would be so easy to sink into the sensations. Lose herself in the heat of his touch. But after so many days, she still needed to speak with him first. She couldn’t cross this threshold without making her intentions clear.
‘Stop.’ She pushed against his chest, and her heart melted when he immediately did as she asked, pulling back when it was clear everything in him wanted to push forward. This was why she wouldgive him her heart. He was a man she could love without losing herself.
He was breathing heavily; his dark brow lifted in a silent question.
‘I love you, Thomas Grey.’ The words escaped before she knew she was going to say them. But every syllable resonated in her soul. No matter what happened this night, or every night in her future, she needed him to know that her admission days before hadn’t been said out of desperation. Her love for him would endure when all else faded.
‘I love you too, Clio. No matter what happens between us. You must know. I would tear the gods from their heavens, vanquish every ghost, destroy any devil who dared to hurt you.’
‘I am so sorry you will never be able to have children.’ A well of grief sprang up within her. Not for herself, but for Thomas.
His eyes grew glassy with unshed tears, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. She didn’t need Helena’s gift to read his mind. Doubt dwelled there. And fear that she wouldn’t want to be with him, no matter how much they might love each other.
She pressed on, needing him to hear her truth. ‘But I am not sorry the fates have put us together.’
She watched expressions shift over him like a sunset. Surprise. Disbelief. Finally, tentative hope. ‘You don’t believe they have cursed you by having you waste your love on me?’
She laughed only to stop the tears. He had no idea how much she treasured him. But he was about to find out. ‘Love is never wasted, Thomas. Have I ever told you what happened to my mother?’
It was an abrupt topic change. Thomas’ mouth turned down as his gaze clouded with confusion.
‘No.’
‘She fell in love. When I was six and Ellie was only three.’
‘Did your father know?’
Clio laughed. ‘My father only knew my mother for a night. The same is true for Ellie’s father. My mother knew she wanted children, but she never wanted a husband. So, she found men who could give her offspring and nothing more. Until she met Sebastian McClure.’
Thomas exhaled slowly. ‘Was she happy with this man?’
‘For a spell. She would leave us at Aunt Rowan’s for days at a time to be with him. At first, I was happy because she was happy. But Aunt Rowan never approved. I heard them arguing about it the last time she left us. He wanted her to renounce her powers and leave us with Aunt Rowan. Start a new life with him in a different village.’
‘So, she left you?’
The pain of her mother’s rejection still burned in her chest. She never told anyone this story because those closest to her already knew and all others didn’t deserve to know. Something about putting her deepest shame into words made it fresh again. But Thomas had welcomed her into the darkest corners of his heart. She owed him the same honesty.
Clio shifted her gaze away from his too-assessing stare. Despite what she said, the man was remarkably good at noticing details. ‘She left me. And Ellie.’
‘Clio…’ Thomas’ deep voice was so full of anguish for her, it was an unexpected balm for her aching soul.
She shook her head, knowing if she didn’t tell the whole thing at once, she would never get the words out. ‘That wasn’t the worst of it. She rejected us, but she also rejected her magic. Her power. The pieces of herself that made Mother who she truly was. She told Aunt Rowan she would never practise her craft again. She used blood magic to bind her powers.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Blood magic is ancient and results in the most powerful spells.It requires sacrifice. She chose to sacrifice herself. To amputate her powers to be with Sebastian McClure. When I realised what she had done, I ran out to try and stop her. I grabbed onto her dress and begged her not to leave. She took my hands in her own, crouched down and told me, “True love demands yielding every part of yourself to the one you love”. She said, one day, I would understand. And then she left.’
A hot tear tracked down Clio’s face. Thomas brushed it away and she caught his hand, holding it against her cheek.
