Page 61 of Spark of Sorcery

Do I?

My head spins even more because maybe I do. Maybe this is the force that has been pushing me towards them even when I’ve hated, feared and mistrusted them.

I lay my hand on my heart and try to breathe, forcing myself to think straight.

The book says there are signs that prove people are fated mates. As far as I know, as far as I’m concerned, none of those signs apply to us. Sure, they turn me on, sure I find it hard to resist them, but that could be because they’ve done a very good job at seducing a lonely girl. They could simply be messing with my head.

I blow my air from my lungs, puffing away all the confusion.

They don’t know about the firestone in my possession. To them, I am nothing more than a commoner girl from Slate. Which reminds me…

As I’m here, and the library is in a cooperative mood, there’s more I need to find out about.

“Thank you, Library,” I say. “That was just the book I needed. It was extremely illuminating. I am now much better informed.” The lights flicker in a manner I take means the library is pleased with that little compliment. “Now, do you think you could help me with another topic? I’d be really grateful.”

The chandelier above me spins and the shelves seems to vibrate with excitement. The library seems to like helping me after all.

“I need to learn about firestones.”

Like before the shelves start to spin, books flutter up to the ceiling, then descend back down to the shelves again. I get the impression this request is a harder one to answer. However, after a few more minutes, I have a pile of different books by my feet. One looks like a children’s fairytale book, one an encyclopedia and the others are volumes on historical events.

I flick through each in turn and soon I understand why my second request was more difficult. There’s no definitive answer like there was about fated mates. The historical accounts disagree as to what firestones were, what they could do and if they ever existed in the first place.

I may have a better understanding of fated mates – even if the entire thing seems incredible to me. But firestones? I’m no clearer at all.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Briony

Thorne Cadieux claims he’d do anything for me. It seems I might need to put that to the test sooner than I expected.

Because Wednesday comes around again before I know it, leaving me with a big dilemma. The stone, little by little, continues to crack. I’m sure any moment now it’s going to split and whatever is inside – if there is anything inside at all – is going to be revealed. I don’t want to miss it.

Lessons I can’t skip. It’ll only end in detentions that’ll mean more time away from my room. But an evening with the Princes? Surely that can be negotiated. Especially if I ask Thorne.

I don’t fancy another altercation out on the field with half the academy watching and the man is impossible to track down. So, reluctantly leaving the stone behind, I makemy way to the tower as usual, and when Dray answers the door with a cocky smile on his face, I announce:

“I need to talk to Thorne. Alone.”

Dray’s grin falls from his face and he gives me those puppy-dog eyes. “That’s it. Not even a hello. And after I introduced you to cunnilingus and took you to heaven and back.”

“A little presumptuous,” I point out.

“Are you denying I took you to heaven?”

I bite my lip and shake my head.

“Good,” he says, placated. “Come here and let me inhale that scent of yours. Then I’ll go get the Grump for you.”

“He’s not a grump,” I say automatically.

“Ahh,” the left side of Dray’s mouth lifts in a half-smile, “it’s like that, huh?”

He winks, pulls me towards him, buries his face in the crook of my neck, inhales deeply, then his body stiffens and before I know it, my hand is gripped in his and he’s unwinding the bandage.

“Want to tell me about this?” he growls.

“Just an accident,” I mutter, trying to pull my hand away.