“At Columbus Circle.”
Lucan didn’t speak for a moment as if considering what she’d revealed. Then he said, “You do understand, Reynner cannot remain on this realm once we find the Stone.”
“You’re telling me this why?”
Glacial eyes hardened. And she’d always thought turquoise a calming color.
“You know why.”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to spell it out. I’m busy and don’t have time for puzzles.”
A long stretch of silence followed. His gaze skated over her like winter’s kiss, and to think, she’d been sufficiently warm and sticky from the heat until he came.
“When the time comes, will you leave?”
“Where—why?” she asked, unable to fathom what he was getting at.
“Empyrea. It’s where Reynner will go.”
Her heart stopped. Her chest constricted painfully. Reynner had never asked her to go anywhere with him. She had to force out the words from a tightening throat. “Why would I do that?”
“It’s good you feel this way. Our realm is ravaged by civil wars. And Darkreans, who fight for rule. You will be a distraction he can ill-afford.”
Eve held back a biting retort. She’d sensed Lucan’s dislike, but to detest her to such an extent that he would warn her off Reynner? If only he knew the truth. The only thing Reynner thought about was finding the Stone and leaving. She only mattered because they needed her to search for the artifact. And he’d made love to her…Because I didn’t give him much choice, she realized with painful insight.
Shepushed him into doing so. The reality wasn’t any easier to swallow two days later.
Even if he had gone off to Exilum last night, it was probably to spare her feelings. Why would he want her when he seemed to hate women, didn’t trust them? And who could blame him after what he’d endured in Hell?
“He’s been gone too long from Empyrea,” Lucan continued, interrupting thoughts that left her raw. Hurting. “Ademéras needs him. When he’s gone, the bonding ties will ease—”
Her head snapped up. “Thewhat?”
He stared at her for a short, silent moment. “He didn’t tell you? I guess I should have given him more credit, despite the temptation your kind presents to us. Mortals were never meant to be mates to our species.”
Mate?Mate!
“What the hell are you talking about? What mate?” Eve glared at Lucan. And found him studying her. Probably searching for whatever Reynner had seen in her that made him sleep with her.
Then he shook his head. “Impossible to believe…you humans are far too weak. Frail. You would never last the course of being mated to one like us. It’s best you make this easy on yourself, tell him you don’t want him here.”
The superior tone made Eve want to shove him out of her studio. Except the pain inside of her rendered her helpless. She’d spent far too much time with them to not understand what the wordmatemeant. North had lost his wife to the wars in their realm.
Reynner had bonded with her and never said a word. But then he’d never lied about staying with her either. Swallowing her hurt, she pinned Lucan with an unforgiving look. “Relax. I have no plans to taint the purity of your bloodline. Reynner is a free agent. I won’t force him to stay, nor will I be your scapegoat. You want him to leave,youtell him so.”
His piercing turquoise gaze swirled white with power, with knowledge. Tendrils of ice wrapped around her. “You won’t win.”
“Then you should be glad with me out of the picture. I want him to be happy—can you say the same?”
When she received no answer, she turned away, growing weary of the conversation. “I thought not. Now, if you don’t mind, please leave. I have work to do.”
After Lucan left, North sat on the over-turned crate near the door again, staring outside.
Eve leaned her elbows on the work-surface, staring at her faceless sketch of Reynner for several long minutes. And wondered how she’d held herself together as she faced that heartless man.
When he’s gone, the bonding ties will ease.
Lucan’s words were like a razor peeling off layer after layer of her heart until it bled so profusely, she didn’t think she’d ever heal from the shock. The betrayal.
