Page 117

“It’s just slow-going is all,” she replied, climbing onto the sofa beside him.

Too engrossed in the book, he was certain she hadn’t even realized she’d settled against his side, but he sure as fuck had.Every part of his being was aware from the places where their bodies touched to the sparks of pleasure shooting through his veins to his shadows momentarily stilling and now curiously drifting closer. He swore he could feel her fascination with all of this, but more than that, he could smell the power in her veins.

The power in her blood.

He forced himself to focus on the book she was flipping through, having no idea how to read it, but when she turned another page, he stopped her.

Leaning over and pointing at one of the Marks, he said, “This is the Guardian Mark.”

“Really?” She moved the book between them, smoothing her hand over the page.

“Mhmm,” he murmured. “Theon and Luka researched it for months. Years, really.”

“That is why Cienna is in the Underground?”

“My father was very displeased,” Axel said. “There are some Marks only Legacy can see. This is one of them.”

“I know that,” she retorted. “I’ve found such Marks in other books, but this one has more.”

“And you can really translate all of this?”

“It’d be easier with some reference books, but yes, I can,” she answered, turning to look at him. They were so close now, her breath coasted over his lips as she spoke.

Amber eyes went wide, and she made to lurch back, but he found his arm around her, keeping her in place.

“Axel?”

His name was breathy on her tongue, and he swallowed the groan at the sound of it. His shadows crept closer, and he could tell the moment she noticed them because she sucked in a sharp breath. They curled around her ear, winding among her dark strands of hair. He leaned in more, inhaling deeply. Gods, shesmelled so good. That jasmine and citrus scent that wouldn’t leave him alone, and the power humming in her veins.

He was the one lurching back now. Shooting to his feet, the books fell to the floor.

“Fuck,” Axel muttered, dropping to a knee to gather them at the same time she slipped to the floor to do the same.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

“Don’t be.”

They were both too careful not to touch each other again, and she stood, stacking her books and straightening the papers. Axel dragged a hand through his hair, unsure how he both wanted to pull her back to him and push her away to keep her safe from him.

“Can I ask you something?” she said, moving to a bookshelf where she’d created space to hold some of her things.

“Of course.”

“After the Selection Year, where do you think I will be assigned?”

His hand dropped back to his side. “What do you mean? You’re assigned to Arius Kingdom.”

“Yes, but what will I be doing?”

“I guess I don’t know,” Axel admitted.

She nodded, turning to him and clasping her hands in front of her.

“Is there a reason you’re asking?”

Katya reached up, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “No, I merely thought you might have an idea as to if I would be at Arius House or somewhere else.”

“Arius House?” he repeated in confusion.