Page 126 of As Above, So Below

“I didn’t think you liked having your ego stroked,” she mutters and I can’t help but chuckle.

After the morning I’ve had, I’ll take whatever harmless distractions come my way.

I turn to Sybille, “Do you mind if I take Eve for a minute? I have some questions for her.”

As the shadows vanish like morning fog, her eyes meet mine as she nods.

Thank you,she gestures.

With a wave of her hands, she dismisses us and lowers herself toher seat, opening one of the several books on the desk. Eve gives me a concerned glance as I begin toward the stairs, gesturing for her to follow.

“I thought you were with Cor?” Eve asks as she catches up, falling in beside me.

“I was, but I have a few questions for you. Something’s come to my attention,” I say, keeping my voice low.

“Another interesting turn of events?” she laughs.

My deadpan stare causes her laughter to falter.

She sighs as we turn and continue down the stairs. “Gods, now what?”

“Your channel with Druka,” I begin, and her brows raise slightly, “you gave consent for her to open it, right?”

“Of course. She said it couldn’t be opened otherwise.”

“And there was a spell or—or a ritual?”

“I mean, maybe. I don’t know,” Eve answers, blinking a few times. “I gave my consent, my contract was amended to include the channel, and then it existed.”

I huff an exasperated sigh.

Eve pulls my arm, stopping me in the middle of the staircase.

“What is it?” Her tone is as firm as her stare.

I laugh, rather nervously, earning myself a narrow-eyed glare.

“A channel has opened between Ryc and I.”

“Okay, and?” She releases me. “As long as he’s consented—”

“Neither of us consented,” I whisper, interrupting her.

“Wait, what?” Her eyes grow round.

“I can hear him as clear as I hear my own thoughts.” I lean a shoulder against the wall as she descends the couple steps between us to stand beside me. “There’s this pull, and I feel traces of his emotions. I’ve put up a mental ward for the time being, but this is a magic I’m not familiar with. I don’t know how this happened without consent.”

“Let me get this straight.” Eve crosses her arms over her chest, tucking her hands under her biceps. “It opened without consent, you can sense his emotions, and there’s a pull between you?”

I nod.

Eve purses her lips, her brows creasing in thought. “I can askDruka about this, but I don’t believe it’s a channel.”

“How can it be anything else? It openedafterhe signed the contract,” I argue, the desperation clear in my voice. “I need him out of my head,” I finish in a tight whisper.

“You did this to yourself,” she teases in hushed tones.

My lips pull into a tight frown. She’s not wrong, but she doesn’t have to remind me.