Page 52 of Witchbane
“Fuck,” I growled as I opened an actual door for the hundredth time to find a brick wall. “Are you messing with me? Is this some kind of ward to keep me out?”
Nick shut the door, put his hand to it and reopened it, black opening again. “No ward.”
“Fuck, fuckity, fuck, fuck!” I screamed at the door.
Liam chuckled behind me, his nose buried in a book as it had been all day. I glared at him. He raised a brow in my direction.
“Why isn’t it working?” I demanded of Nick. I was doing everything he said. Symbols to direct the wild magic. I could even feel tiny bits of it release from the store the kitsune had built up. Not enough to remove the discomfort, but enough that I knew I was using wild magic. More of that ice barrier dripped away inside. The kitsune watched with a quiet contemplation that worried me.
“I’m not actually certain,” Nick said. “You are a being of both wild magic and structured magic. This should be easy for you.”
Creating the door was easy. The first time I’d been smug, thinkingoh this was way too easy, when the door appeared like the giant wood slab of some ancient castle. That was exactly how I’d pictured it. Like something out of a movie. Only when I opened it, there was a brick wall. No way through. Not a real doorway. And after hours of trying, I was not only exhausted physically, I was emotionally drained.
Meanwhile Liam got to lie in the grass and read. How had I gotten the short end of the stick again? The sky was growing dark, and I wondered if that was normal or something we needed to be worried about.
“We should head back,” Nick said. “You both could use some rest. We can try again tomorrow.”
Liam began to gather up the books. He looked tired and a little hungry. When he stepped out of the circle and close enough for me to touch, I put my arms around him. He was cold, too. Dammit. He hadn’t said a word. “We need to get you back behind wards. With some food and blankets.”
“Sure,” Liam agreed.
Nick opened a door. Effortless. I was really angry with myself, but followed him through with Liam beside me. My mate had wisely kept quiet while I’d been a terrible failure at basic door making.
“Are there more books on spells?” Liam asked as we stepped back through to the hallway near the room we’d been given and the library. He held out his stack for Nick. “Can I keep the one you wrote about scion stuff for a while? I’m still working through that one.”
“Sure,” Nick said, taking the bulk of the stack back. “There aren’t many books about spells since the fae don’t normally use them.”
The windows showed it was growing dark here too. Since Nick didn’t act alarmed, I hoped that meant normal evening and not a pending monster attack.
“I’ll bring them to your room,” Nick offered. “And some food for both of you.”
“You don’t have to serve us,” I said, feeling weird about Nick being some kind of butler.
“I do, actually. None of the fae will come up here. You’re kitsune. They will treat you with a wide berth much like they do Kiran. And we’d rather you not wander the palace and stir up the fae. If even one goes running outside the wards, they will be corrupted and turn to attack us.” He walked us to our door. “I apologize that your access is limited.”
“We understand,” Liam said. “No scaring the natives.” He tugged me into our room, but left the door open, expecting Nick to return.
Once Nick had walked away, I stared up at Liam. He’d been quiet all day, and while he wasn’t normally chatty, I knew something was on his mind. Either questions or something he was working through. I’d had hints of emotions all day, worry, a bit of hope, and a lot of stony silence. “There’s stuff you’re not saying, and I’m not in your head like you’re in mine. Talk, buster.”
“I have thoughts…” Liam began. “And I think I know a way to fix a few things.” He frowned, looking around the large space. “Not everything. But us,” he motioned between us, “at least.”
“You mean a way for me to be in your head, too?”
“Would you want that? It’s not as pretty or perfect as you probably think. There’s some whackadoodle up there as well.” Liam pointed to his head. “Not sure any amount of life or meditation will ever fix that.”
“I’d love to be in your head. As long as it’s not a sudden revelation that you secretly hate my ass or something.”
“I love your ass,” Liam said, a smile tugging the corners of his lips. He set the book on the bedside table. “I have a few more questions for Nick though. Then maybe I can love your ass for a bit.”
“Stop making me horny.”
“Right, ‘cause that’s on me?” Liam teased.
Nick returned, a tray of food in one hand, and two books tucked under his arm. “It’s not much, and the water will become an issue soon, but it will have to do for now.”
Liam took the books. Nick set the tray down. “One question before you leave for the night,” Liam said. “About being a scion.” He looked back at me. “Seb said the last time he saw you; you were thin. And now you’re…” He waved at Nick. “Healthy. The food sustains you because you’re Kiran’s scion?”
“Yes, and no. His power sustains me. I don’t actually need the food from the human world.”