Page 35 of These Eternal Bones
Books with Bronze Pictures
Molly
I’m soaked, having refused Péal’s help in getting dry as my reddened toes slap the marble stairs.
A gasp rips from my lungs when her magic hits the end of its range, leaving me frigid.
I barely have a second to regain my breath when Elric blurs in front of me.
“Molly, you’re soaked!” his voice is incensed, but I don’t give him time to say more.
My hands are trembling as they slap on either side of his face, my lips slamming his in a blinding kiss.
The kind you don’t come back from.
The type of kiss that pulls you under.
I can feel it the moment he floods me, his touch lingering in my veins.
It makes so much more sense now that the icy water has cleared my mind.
He’s a god, his dominion over blood. I am in love with a god, loved by a god for hundreds of years.
The thought itself is mind rattling, but I giggle, forcing myself as close to him as possible when he lifts me into his arms, blurring us toward his bedroom.
My dresses don’t stand a chance as he rips through them like they're no more than paper, all but tethering me in front of the fireplace as he gathers blankets. I just smile, watching the immortal man fret over me until I’m wrapped up like a baby sitting in front of roaring flames.
“I love you.” It’s a simple, effortless thing to say. Nothing at all as it leaves my lips.
But to him, it’s everything.
His veins lighten as he gently places his forehead against mine. “I love you more, syringa. Thank you, thank you for coming back to me.”
Tears well in my eyes as I struggle to keep them dry. “I’m sorry it took so long.”
“An eternity, my love. I would wait an eternity.”
After the next few days of being all but restrained to his bed and sequestered to our bedroom, my body aches in all the most wonderful places as I wince my way into the library.
My heart feels both burdened and light at the same time, a new sense of urgency rushing my steps.
Had business not called Elric to his duties today, I’m sure I would still be face down in silk sheets, my body supported by his tendrils as he takes me from–
“Cartiel,” I gasp, the man startling me as I burst into the library. He frowns, nodding in greeting before shutting his book. I rush forward as he goes to stand from where he was reading, leaning against the shelves. “Please don’t leave on my behalf.”
“It is fine, I have chores to–”
I cut him off, peeking at the book he was holding, only for him to tuck it behind his back. “What are you reading? You seem to spend a lot of time in here.” That is, until I show up and he bolts like I’ve set the room ablaze. “Is there a library in town, too? You visit a lot.”
The questions vomit from my mouth with little in the form of charisma. Being raised in a gated community entirely cut off from the outside world doesn’t do much to teach that.
“Was there something you needed, mistress?”
“Oh, you can call me Molly.”
“Rather not.” He deadpans, and irritation pricks my chest before I offer another smile.
“Actually, yes. I need help finding a few books.”
“I have not found any with pictures .”
Deep breath.
“I can read.” I grit out. Well enough.
He simply raises his eyebrows, nodding, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He places his book in the waistband of his loose-fitting pants. “I’m not sure I could be of any more help than the master. It is his library, after all.”
I shrug, attempting to seem casual. Judging by the look in his eyes, it fails.
Perhaps Elric told me in no uncertain terms to let it go, that nothing could be done, and he simply wished to enjoy our time together.
Perhaps Elric has no clue how difficult that is when you have less than half of the information regarding your own life, er- lives, I suppose.
Perhaps I’ve decided to ignore his request, tactfully, of course.
“And what is it you’re not supposed to be looking into? ”
My head snaps toward him, my mouth gaping. “I can do whatever I please.”
“Except read certain books, or explore the upper halls, or ask too many questions deemed too messy to answer, yes?”
“Are you going to help me or not?” My pleasant tone slips, my eyes cutting daggers into his soul.
He has the mind to at least look a little guilty. “Why do you want to know so badly?”
I pause for a moment, again questioning the sanity of everyone in this castle. “Wouldn’t you? If there was even the slightest chance you could stop this, would you?”
His eyes widen, and I almost scream as his eyes flash with light as he steps forward. Gone is the casual, off-putting snide man, traded for someone…troubled…uneasy. “You would choose to end it, if you could?”
“Of course.” Why wouldn’t I?
I almost ask him what’s wrong, what happened to put that look in his eyes, to take the chip off his shoulder as he nods, swallowing hard. “I can’t help you.” He works his jaw, and I can tell there’s more he wants to say.
He simply holds out a hand as I go to speak.
It's then that Tien blips into the library.
If what I did was stare daggers into Cartiel, he stares bombs at the man.
My brows furrow as he adjusts his shirt, hiding the book tucked into his pants as he passes me.
“Oh, but mistress, please be careful of the ladder. It has a weak step toward the top.”
My eyes dart to the library ladder, its golden wheels tarnished with time, where it sits toward the back of the library. Irritation floods through me as he leaves, making me huff. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I should tell Tien about the stolen book. If nothing else, then just to spite the jerk .
It’s then that Tien speaks up. “Miss Molly, perhaps some afternoon tea in the solarium.”
I sigh. “Yes, please. I’d love to spend my time surrounded by dead plants.”
He chuckles at that, washing away a bit of my grumpy mood. “Who wouldn’t?”
I bite my inner cheek, hiding my smile as he follows me out of the room, locking the door behind us.