Page 6 of Obsidian and Frost

I walked back into the bedroom and grabbed my watch from the nightstand—a black leather band with an opalescent face that had no hands or numbers, but magical symbols instead etched into the surface.

It wasn’t any old watch.

In fact, it didn’t actually tell the time.

It was a Watch of Warding, which Warlow had made for me.

It was specially created and spelled to detect blood-relatives with hostile intent. The face glowed when one neared, flickering more intensely the closer they came.

Despite the heaviness of why I had it, as I strapped it on, I didn’t focus on that and instead the sweet gesture that it had been from Warlow.

Just like him and Cornelius inviting me to stay here in their home after that attempt on my life up at the Guardian Compound. I’d been living at a Guardian Movement safehouse before that, but given that Cornelius Martel was an Immortal and one of the most powerful beings across the supernatural world, Warlow had insisted I came here as it was more protected than even a safehouse. And, although he hadn’t spoken to it directly, I got the impression that he hadn’t wanted me to be alone either.

It was sweet.

They’d both been incredible toward me.

I looked up at the crystal clock on the wall opposite the bed, seeing that it was time for breakfast.

Perfect again!

I walked to the door, threw it open, then headed downstairs.

“Weaving & Shadow Architecture,”I told Warlow.

We were sitting at their breakfast nook tucked into an alcove with the arched windows that were synonymous with the architecture of their mansion. A round white marble table with gray veins was at its center, the surrounding walls a slate-blue. Curving around half the table was a tufted seat where he and Cornelius sat together, the curve of the seat drawing them naturally inward.

Opposite them was where I sat on a high-backed chair upholstered with the same silvery velvet. The table was covered in a lovely breakfast spread of croissants, bowls of raspberries,blueberries and blackcurrants, stacked pancakes, a glass syrup pitcher full of fresh maple syrup,anda big jug of my favored lemonade that I was sipping from a glass as we talked.

“That’s the subject you’re most looking forward to?” he continued on.

He brushed a strand of shaggy blond hair from his eye, the ends brushing the shoulders of his red flannel shirt. His jeans grazed Cornelius’ dark pants as they sat close together. While Warlow had a boxer’s physique, Cornelius’ powerhouse form eclipsed him, towering, and his light-gray tee barely containing all that rigid bulk of his. Par for the course with an Immortal, really. The light in the room kind of made his long silver hair sparkle with an ethereal glow, too.

I smiled out at Warlow. He was being so sweet with his questions about today, making sure I knew he cared and was taking an interest.

Of course I knew. He’d been so great with me.

And Cornelius, despite his stoic reputation, had also been kind and gentle with me.

They’d both been amazing.

It was actually going to be hard to leave here from that respect.

Being in their home and having them treat me so well… it was the first time in years that I’d experienced anything like that. The first time also that I’d actually felt safe.

“Yep. It’ll really help me to hone my Wraith abilities, the part of me that, unlike the Dark Fae aspect, I’m not as confident in. But more than that, the course is being taught by a Shadowmancer—Selix Nyvarra. That’s about as close to meeting another Wraith as I’ll ever get. They’re rare too. Not as much as Wraiths, but still.”

Cornelius looked up from his breakfast with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes. “One of the main ways in whichShadowmancers draw power is from the absence of light—shadows and veils. This will directly correlate to your Wraith abilities. Also, the illusionary aspect will connect with your Dark Fae side. There is a great deal you will learn from this course.”

“Even how to meld those abilities together more so,” Warlow said.

“Exactly,” Cornelius agreed. “This course will assist you with merging your hybrid abilities.” He smiled. “Something you already demonstrated when you pulled Cassius from the Celestial Plane by harmonizing both sides of yourself and creating that impressive gateway from both shadow magic and your Dark Fae power.”

I jolted at the mention of Cassius.

“Yeah,” I murmured. “That was really something.”

Cornelius reached out and touched my hand softly. “I know from firsthand experience how disorientating becoming a Fallen can be, how deep an existential crisis is brought forth. It will take him some time.”