His gaze swept over her features, noting how the temporary healing spell still allowed her to stand easily, without pain clouding her expression. The magic would fade soon, returning her to a reality of limited mobility and constant discomfort.
Something shifted inside him. For the first time in centuries, duty and protocol gave way to purpose of a different kind. Perhaps Jacinth had been right to choose this woman as his vessel bearer. Perhaps he'd forgotten something important about magic - that sometimes joy itself was reason enough.
The realization settled over him like desert sunlight, warm and clarifying. His centuries-old heart stirred with an emotion he couldn't quite name.
Kieran held out his hand, his decision crystallizing with perfect clarity. In this moment, nothing had ever felt more right. No more protocols, no more maintaining that carefully crafted distance. For the first time in too long, he would act on impulse rather than duty.
Mandy's warm fingers slipped into his without hesitation, her forest green eyes meeting his with quiet trust. The contact sent a ripple through his fire, awakening something that had slumbered for centuries. Her simple acceptance, free from calculation or ulterior motive, touched a place within him he'd thought long buried under the weight of responsibility and tradition.
Chapter
Sixteen
The moment Mandyplaced her hand in Kieran's, her apartment vanished. The world shifted and spun, leaving Mandy's stomach lurching as her surroundings transformed. One moment they stood in her living room, the next they materialized on a busy city sidewalk. Cars crept through the intersection ahead, their brake lights glowing in the late afternoon sun.
Mandy blinked rapidly, trying to orient herself. Her hand tightened on Kieran's as panic fluttered in her chest.
Half in panic, half in wonder, Mandy clutched Kieran's hand tighter as she stared at their new surroundings. "Did you just... teleport us?" Her voice came out higher than usual as she tried to process the instant change of location. The familiar comfort of her apartment had vanished, replaced by the bustle of a city street she didn't recognize.
Kieran's deep laugh resonated through the air, while Mandy peered around, taking in the unfamiliar architecture - tall buildings with classical facades lined the broad avenue, their windows reflecting the late afternoon sunlight. Trees dotted the sidewalk, their branches providing welcome shade from the summer heat. Nothing looked remotely like Tucson. Peoplepassed them on the sidewalk, but, oddly, no one looked twice at them as they stood under a pretty peach-colored awning.
"Won't people notice that we just appeared out of nowhere?"
"We're invisible at the moment," Kieran's deep voice assured her. His free hand traced an intricate pattern in the air. "I'm casting a glamour that will make it appear as though we've been walking along this street all along. Anyone who might have been watching will remember seeing us approach."
True to his words, Mandy felt an odd tingling sensation wash over her skin. She watched in the store window beside her in fascination as their forms seemed to slowly materialize, like watercolors bleeding into view on wet paper. A businessman walked past, his eyes sliding over them without any sign of surprise or concern.
"There," Kieran said, satisfaction coloring his tone. "Now we're fully visible, and anyone who sees us will assume we've been here all along."
They stood outside a spacious store that took Mandy's breath away. Sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating glass display cases that lined the walls and created elegant islands throughout the room. The polished wooden floors gleamed, and the high ceiling gave the space an almost cathedral-like feeling.
Kieran opened the heavy glass door, his hand warm against her lower back as he guided her inside. The air-conditioned interior washed over her skin, a blessed relief. Only then did she register how oppressive the outside air had been - muggy and heavy with humidity, nothing like the crisp, dry heat she knew from home. Her hair had already begun to frizz in ways it never did in Arizona's desert climate.
A slim blonde woman in an elegant navy suit approached them, her heels clicking purposefully across the polished floor. Her bright smile and professional demeanor suggestedshe regularly welcomed distinguished visitors to this exclusive space.
"Welcome to Uncommon Threads," she said warmly. "I'm Laura. How may I assist you today?"
Uncommon Threads? Mandy's mouth went dry. Washington DC? They were actually in Washington DC? The words stuck in her throat as she tried to process this impossible leap across the country. She couldn't very well blurt out her astonishment though.
"Thank you," she managed, her voice sounding faint even to her own ears. "It's lovely to be here."
She felt Kieran's steadying presence beside her, his quiet strength helping her maintain her composure despite the surreal situation. The showroom's elegant displays stretched before her, holding treasures she'd only dreamed of seeing in person.
The soft chime of the front door drew Laura's attention. "Excuse me," she said warmly. "I need to greet our next visitors. Please, take your time exploring." She hurried toward the entrance where a small group had gathered.
Kieran leaned down, his breath warm against her ear as he murmured, "That's Alessandra's sister - Julian's sister-in-law. She manages the showroom."
"Oh! Right!" Mandy's mind connected the dots. Alessandra - Julian DiConti's wife, the one who had broken his curse.
Moving deeper into the showroom, Mandy's attention was caught by the intricate embroidery on a displayed sari. The delicate threads shimmered in the carefully positioned lighting, creating patterns that seemed to dance before her eyes. She took several steps closer to examine the detailed work, then froze.
She was still walking. Normally. Pain free.
Her hand flew to her back, pressing gently where the familiar ache should be. Nothing. No stabbing sensation, no burning muscles, no creaking joints.
"I renewed the healing spell before we arrived," Kieran said quietly. "It would hardly do to transport you across the country only to have you unable to properly explore."
Warmth bloomed in her chest at his thoughtfulness. She hadn't even considered how the temporary healing spell from their park visit might affect this impromptu journey. But he had.
