She plucked the scroll from his hands and presented it to me like it was a chest of the finest silk.
“The map isn’t as detailed as I would have liked, but my father wouldn’t let me attune properly.”
I frowned. “Attune?”
Gavin smirked at Annie. “The misfit here has a rare talent. She can channel magic into a map that leads to whatever a person wants most. All she needs is skin contact. Just a touch and she’ll map out your deepest desire. She used me to create this one.”
His tone was flippant, yet the implication wasn’t. I glanced at Gavin, but he pretended not to notice as he flicked invisible dust off his tunic. My grip on the scroll tightened.
“Unfortunately, her magic comes at a risk,” Bowen added, nudging Annie on the shoulder. “She hasn’t mastered it yet, which is why she wears gloves. If the magic overwhelms her, it turns her into a beacon for anyone who would exploit her power. Which is why any map-making is strictly supervised by either me or Liana.” He muttered the last part like a warningin case Annie had other ideas. “But we both agree that helping you is worth the small risk.”
Annie made a face, then wriggled her fingers. “Ugh.I already told you. I won’t get kidnapped again! I’ve been practicing. And I’m getting better.”
Bowen grumbled, “Have children, they said. It will be fun, they said.”
I held back a grin and pressed the map against my heart. “Thank you, Annie. This is a very special gift.”
Annie preened, running her hand along the back of her braids. “You’re welcome. Oh, and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the story.”
“What story?”
“The lov—”
“All right!” Bowen clapped Annie on the shoulder as Gavin coughed into his fist. “Enough talk. Let’s let Uncle Gavin and Marin start their quest.” He pulled me into another quick hug. “Be safe, Marin. And welcome back.”
I nodded, watching as an unspoken conversation passed between Bowen and Gavin. Then Gavin scooped up his pack and mine, leaving me with nothing to do but follow.
Chapter 28
Marin
The vine was abehemoth, and I peered into the sky as nerves tingled the back of my neck. Then again, I could probably attribute some of those nerves to the silent, brooding man who dropped our packs at the base of the vine, then held out his wrist.
“Uncuff me, Marin.”
I chewed the corner of my lip. “Why didn’t you pick the lock? You could've been out of that thing in ten seconds flat.”
“Because I want you to do it.” His voice was strangely lethal. “You put it on. You take it off.”
“Is this a lesson on the consequences of my actions?” I laughed nervously. “You’re going to put it on me the second I get close enough, aren’t you?”
Gavin’s features remained stony and unreadable. Five minutes into our journey, and he was already knocking me off balance. I’d lost control of the situation, epically, and I was starting to wonder if I’d ever had it at all. What I thought I knew about him, about us, might be wrong. And that was terrifying.
It felt like standing on that ruinous rope bridge again, staring at the board in front of me, unsure if it would hold my weight or send me plummeting into the void. Should I throwmyself into his arms or run for the hills?
Running felt safer. It was the path I knew best. I was the queen of avoidance, and this was my kingdom.
“Fine,” I muttered, swallowing some of my nerves, only to have another wave of them bash into me as I stepped closer and removed the key from my pocket.
He watched me, his gaze heavier than one of the monstrous branches attached to the vine as I held his arm steady. With hesitant fingers, I twisted the key in the lock.
The last time we were this close, he’d kissed me. Now he was acting like it never happened. Like the ground hadn’t shifted. And that was before I’d picked the lock on Pandora’s box of Possible Devotion. I was furious. But then again, I'd planned to ignore the kiss, so why shouldn’t he?
The queen of avoidance had found herself a king.
A soft click, and the cuff broke open. When I went to reach for it, Gavin slipped it off, plucked the key from my fingers, and tucked them both into his bag.
I lifted my chin. “I should get to keep the shackle. I bought it.”
