“Now,” I whispered. “Focus on the butterflies.”
Our combined magic stretched outward, seeking the scattered creatures.
I felt Kieran shift behind me, his body curving around mine as if to shield me from any potential magical backlash. It was an instinctive gesture, one that spoke of possession and care rather than doubt in my abilities. His thumbs traced small circles on my wrists as our magic worked, and the gesture made it a challenge to focus.
One by one, the creatures were drawn toward the circle, their wings fluttering as they settled on the obsidian stone. The singing teacups quieted. The glitter in the air condensed into fine dust that drifted into the circle.
It was working.
I laughed. “I can’t believe it?—”
Kieran’s hands shifted, his fingers threading through mine. The contact sent a jolt through me that had nothing to do with magic and everything to do with the man pressed against my back.
The spell wavered.
“Steady,” he said, his lips close to my ear. “We’re almost there.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Our combined magic continued its work, pulling in the last stray butterflies, settling the restless energy into the obsidian stone.
When the final butterfly joined its fellows, Kieran squeezed my hands. “Now what?”
“We seal it.” I turned my hands beneath his, linking our fingers more firmly. “Together.”
Our magic responded right away, twining closer, tighter, forming a shell around the collected energy.The dark stone gleamed, absorbing the power, while our joined magic sealed the spell with a soft pulse of light that rippled outward.
This was something neither my grimoire nor an elder had ever mentioned. For a heartbeat, maybe two, I felt him. Not physically, but deeper. A flash of his thoughts brushed against mine. Wonder at the golden warmth of my magic, surprise at how perfectly it complemented his shadows, and beneath it all, a fierce, possessive desire that made my breath catch.
I peeked over my shoulder.
His eyes widened, and I knew he’d gotten a glimpse behind my carefully constructed walls, perhaps seeing how desperately I wanted to belong here, with him, not just as a political pawn but as something real.
His pulse jumped at his throat, a rare visible sign of emotion from the normally composed vampire king. I stared at that telltale flutter beneath his skin, wondering how it would feel under my fingertips. My mouth. The thought made my heart race faster, and his nostrils flared. He could tell I was affected by him with his acute hearing. But instead of smug satisfaction, his expression held something closer to wonder. As if my racing heart was a gift rather than a weakness to exploit.
The connection broke as quickly as it had formed, leaving both of us shaken and staring at each other with new understanding.
My magic settled, quieted and contained.
But the awareness of Kieran’s chest against my back and his fingers entwined with mine remained intense.
Slowly, I turned within the circle of his arms to face him.
His eyes had darkened, the gold flecks almost overwhelmed by midnight blue.
“It worked,” I said softly.
“Yes.”
“Thank you for your help.”
“My pleasure.”
We stood frozen, so close our clothing brushed, magic still humming between us.
“Cyrene.” My name on his lips sounded like a question and a plea.
I raised my face, unable to resist the pull between us. His eyes dropped to my mouth.
“This is probably unwise,” I whispered.
