Aerén made to follow, but Reynner stopped him with a hard stare. He remembered the pain on Eve’s face. Aerén’s power had hurt her. “Lucan can look after himself. You need to get that power Grounded. I can't have you around Eve riding the edge.”
While the mating bond leveled his own power, Aerén’s was too unstable. The white quartzite found in the Exilum mountains helped siphon off powers from Empyreans with excess. It’s why Reynner preferred to live there.
Aerén scowled. “I can manage. We’re close to finding the artifact.”
“I'm not taking Eve out so soon after her ordeal. A day or two will be good enough to start. Go.”
“Go where?” Eve asked, joining them, still a little too pale for his liking. Reynner drew her to his side.
“Your mate just kicked me out.” Aerén shot him an annoyed glare. “I must go to Exilum and Ground before I hurt you, or I can forget being part of your protection team.”
Eve glanced at him.
“He goes,” Reynner said before she opened her mouth, his tone allowing no argument. “And you need to eat and rest.”
Chapter 26
The midday sun warmed Eve’s skin as she made her way to the studio. It did little to ease the ice settling inside of her after her visit to Brenna earlier that day. Her vibrant friend just lay there—so still.
For the first time in ten years, she’d finally touched her friend and felt nothing, just blurriness. Eve found it hard to swallow past the lump lodged in her throat.
Reynner drew her close to his side and stroked her arm in a soothing gesture. He remained silent, his presence offering her the steadiness she needed.
Work would help, since he refused to continue the search for the Stone, insisting she take it easy after her ordeal. She suspected it was more for his peace of mind, but she didn’t say so, glad for the quiet time.
Once she’d disengaged the alarm to her studio, Eve wandered around the empty place. The acrid smell of soldered metal filled her nostrils. It was a soothing comfort to be in her zone of serenity. She’d have to stock up on more of her raw supplies. The shelves were low on metal sheets and copper wire.
Her cell beeped, distracting her. She retrieved it from her pocket and scanned the text from Echo.
Would love for you and Reynner to come to the castle. 3PM?
Let me know.
Eve cast a quick look at Reynner. He’d stopped at her worktable, occupied with studying the series of drawings she’d done of him for her latest project. Without the face sketched in, it would be impossible to tell who the person was.
Smiling, she left him with his puzzle and texted Echo with her acceptance. And got an instant response with directions.
Satisfied everything was arranged for the afternoon, Eve tried to come up with the best way to tell him about her plans for later that day. And hoped he didn’t freak out.
Pulling down metal strips from the shelf, she hauled them over to her workstation and set them on the small bench nearby. She studied the sculpture she’d started. It was a right ol’ mess. Remnants of that awful afternoon when Lucan had told her to let Reynner go crept into her thoughts.
Ugh, she really didn’t want to think of that horrible time.
Deciding to start over again, she pushed the ruined piece aside to dismantle later. Back at the table, she flipped through the drawings Reynner held.
“I need this one. Thanks.” Ignoring his narrow-eyed look, she took the sketch she wanted and turned to leave. His finger hooked in the waist of her jeans and he hauled her back.
“Is this why we’re here?”
She blinked up at him. “What?”
He nodded at the sketches, shifted his hold from her jeans, and grasped her waist. “Are you waiting for him?”
Reynner it seemed was obsessed with her latest project. Just who did he think it was? She arched her brow. “Icanwork from memory. I'm an artist, remember? Besides, I know him quite well.”
“Eve.” A warning.
Yep, he wasn't pleased. Still…
