Page 114 of A Wayward Movement

“Be careful,” Xavier murmured.

Alina nodded. She made quick work of searching them, unearthing multiple wooden talismans, all of which she immediately broke. She could feel the released magic in her grasp, hers to harness. But she didn’t attempt anything with it, just releasing it harmlessly into the air. A few gasps of relief sounded from within the vault, but the sound she most wanted to hear came from the other direction.

“That’s more like it!”

Alina smiled at Benji’s voice as she backed away from the unconscious men, leaving the guards to handle them.

“These people are all harnessed to magic trapped in talismans like these,” she explained to Xavier. “The man you were fighting held the talisman that was full of the magic I was being forced to constantly harness. When it broke, and the power was released, I was freed from the energy use.” She shuddered. “It was horrible, though, feeling myself unwillingly control magic that was attacking you. I’m honestly quite impressed I managed to control other magic for an opposing purpose. That’s more advanced than anything I’ve ever done before.”

“You’re amazing,” Xavier said. The throatiness of his voice sent a thrill over her, but his next words had a sobering effect. “This is dark use of magic, Alina.”

“I know,” she agreed. “And there’s still so much we don’t understand.”

Benji appeared behind them, and without words, the three of them started undoing all the grates. The guards kept watch over the subdued men, with the exception of one guard, who’d run back out of the tunnel for reinforcements.

The lucky few captives whose talismans had been destroyed scrambled out, but many were still unable to move for fear of depleting themselves.

“We’ll fix this,” Alina promised them. “Right, Xavier?”

“With whatever resources it takes,” he agreed gravely.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” one of the freed captives gasped, clasping Xavier’s hand.

“Don’t thank me, thank Alina,” he said. “She’s the one who volunteered to get captured to help find you all.”

“And it almost cost her life,” Benji said. He frowned at Xavier. “I’m surprised you left her back there, exposed in the tunnel.”

A shadow passed over Xavier’s face. “Believe me, it was the last thing I wanted to do,” he said. “But I’d pledged my word and the honor of my crown to all these people trapped here. I couldn’t abandon them when those men were coming for them.”

“And we’re grateful,” one of the strangers murmured.

Alina considered Xavier, a smile curling her lips at his solemn expression. It was a good color on him.

The operation to remove all the captives was time-consuming and delicate, but Alina determinedly stayed until the very end. She’d been through an ordeal, and her energy wasn’t high, but her state was nowhere near as dire as those who’d been captive for weeks. It wasn’t even as bad as after the night in the desert. It had been a significantly shorter time.

Xavier stayed beside her, coordinating the rescue effort from within the chamber as Captain Mitchell ran things above. He’d barely seemed surprised when she told him Blair was in league with the kidnappers. One of the guards helping transport the victims reported to Xavier that Captain Mitchell had apprehended the liaison, and he was locked up in the site manager’s office under guard.

Eventually, the conspirators were bound and awaiting transport, and the last of the victims had been seen safely to the surface. Alina and Xavier walked slowly, stepping through the clever illusion enchantment out into the short tunnel that led in from the quarry.

Alina paused a few steps from daylight, giving her dazzled eyes a chance to adjust. She was about to move forward when she felt a gentle touch on her arm. She looked up inquiringly, to see Xavier’s eyes boring down into hers.

“There are things I need to say to you,” he told her.

She nodded, looking at her shoes. “Me too.”

“Alina, when I realized they’d taken you…” He cut himself off, drawing a ragged breath.

“When you realized they’d taken me, you did something dangerous and foolish, didn’t you?” she said, lightening the tension. “From the linking enchantment I suddenly felt flare fully to life not long before you appeared, and the fact that it seemed to dissipate once I was in your arms, I’m guessing you convinced them to transfer it to you.”

He gave her a crooked smile. “I was just copying you.”

Alina shook her head, but she wasn’t really annoyed. Not when Xavier was looking at her like she was his whole world.

“I couldn’t help it,” he said. His voice had turned husky. “I had to do whatever it took to get you back.” He drew another breath, and the words came swiftly. “Alina, I love you. With every bone of my body. There’s nothing light or flirtatious in what I feel for you. There never has been.”

“I know,” she told him simply. “I don’t doubt you. I was wrong to hold you back. I’ve been refusing to admit it to myself, but I already knew I could rely on you. I had the choice when I was attacked in the alley near my aunt’s house to either hold my shield or call to you for help, and I didn’t hesitate. There wasn’t time to use my head. My heart just knew I could count on you. Because the truth is…” Her words slowed, but she pushed herself forward. It was time to be brave. “The truth is I love you as well. I don’t think I ever stopped, and it’s certainly too late for me to stop now.”

Xavier didn’t wait for more. He swept her into his arms with total disregard for their generally disheveled, filthy state. Alina put all of her heart into the kiss, holding nothing back as they both surrendered to the need to be near each other. His lips were hungry as he deepened the kiss, but she had no fear of being consumed. Or maybe she wanted to be consumed. All she knew was that when he pulled back, it was too soon.