The next few hours flew by as I alternated between the reports of monster attacks and the books, looking for clues about where the crest could be. The reports were very informative, and we finally had some better descriptions of the new monsters that had been coming down from the mountains as well as specifically what areas they seemed to be coming from. I’d already written three pages of neat notes and suggestions for Cade on new patrol and trade routes and areas we should send hunting parties to.
Unfortunately, my research wasn’t going nearly as well. I slammed a book closed and let out a frustrated sigh. Another dead end.
“Is that from Drudonia?”
I jumped in my chair as Cade’s voice came from behind me, and I glanced at his desk, finding it indeed empty. Maybe Bastian was right and I really just wasn’t as observant as I thought.
Scowling, I got up and leaned my butt against the table so I could face Cade where he stood in front of the large map. He was standing at enough of an angle that I could see the slight upward tilt of the corners of his mouth, telling me he’d definitely noticed my startlement at his question.
He looked away from the map and gestured at the book. “You had your nose buried in that thing when I walked by. I know all the books in the library; that’s not one of them.”
I didn’t doubt his claim. Cade might have looked like a warrior with his broad build and scarring, but he was a scholar at heart. It was something I found intensely hot, and before Bastian and Ryker had invited themselves into my dirty dreams, I’d had more than one of Cade bending me over his desk and?—
“Yes,” I said quickly, clearing my throat as I fought back a blush. “It’s an inventory of Drudonia, slightly out of date but still useful.”
Cade gave me an odd look that told me I had failed at containing my blush. I only hoped he couldn’t smell my arousal, because that would’ve been all kinds of embarrassing. My fantasies about Ryker and Bastian were one thing. Ryker was obviously interested in me and Bastian was . . . well . . . Bastian. But Cade had never expressed even the slightest hint of liking me. Not like that.
We worked well together on a professional level. I’d actually spent more time with him than any of the other Alphas. But I knew little about him, and he’d never asked me any personal questions. Before I’d found out I would never truly be a member of the Alpha pack, I’d thought it would just take time for us to at least become friends. Now, I understood he had put that distance between us deliberately.
I didn’t mind it because it made things less complicated. Currently, Cade was the safest person for me to be around because he felt nothing for me and I nothing for him.
Other than some lust during my incredibly filthy fantasies.
Given that I was embracing celibacy until I negotiated my exit to the Moroi realm, my fingers would be getting quite a workout for the foreseeable future.
But that was for later. Right now, I had work to do.
“I found out a little bit more about that broken mirror when I was visiting my friends,” I said carefully. “We think what’s missing from it is a Fae family crest.” Cade wasn’t as good as Bastian at picking up on lies, but he spent most of his time working out problems, so he was quite clever. I didn’t want him knowing I’d spoken to the Seelie King because that would raise his suspicions. My obsession with fixing the mirror wasn’t a secret, but the reason I was now so motivated was.
There was also the minor fact that he’d forbidden me from speaking to Erendriel without him, and Samara had agreed to that. I didn’t care about getting in trouble with Cade, but I was hardly going to throw my friend to the wolves.
“From what family?” he asked.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged, trying to make it look casual. Technically, I wasn’t lying. I had no idea what the names of the Unseelie Princes were. “But it’s silver and has a starry night sky engraved on it. I’m positive I’ve either seen it or read a mention of it somewhere, but I’m having no luck remembering.”
Cade’s brows furrowed together in that way of his that told me he was working out a problem . . . and I was that problem.
Not good.
I grabbed my notes off the desk and held them out to him. “The mirror is no big deal,” I said smoothly. “Just something I’m curious about, and I mean, it could lead us to another room of treasures. Maybe even more shadow-marked weapons, which would be useful. But it won’t get in the way of more important work.”
He didn’t look entirely convinced but stepped closer to take the papers and started scanning them. “I didn’t even think of using the Marblehead ravine like that,” he murmured. After a few more seconds of looking over my notes, he moved to lean on the table next to me, keeping several inches between us. “I told you this before, but I want to reiterate it: you have a home here. I know it’s not exactly what you wanted, and I’m sorry I didn’t handle it better. But you told Samara you wanted to come here to make things better, not just for Velesians but for the Moroi as well. You can still do that.”
I just had to accept being packless forever. If that was the route I was going to take, I’d rather do it with the Moroi.
“Sure.” I pushed off the table, putting a little more space between us. “If there is nothing else you want me to look at, I think I’ll go study the mirror some more and see if that jogs my memory at all.”
Cade reached out, his fingers brushing my forearm and making me stop after only one step. “You haven’t gone for a run since you’ve been back.” He studied me. “Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes,” I said tightly.
“I can tell Ryker to stay inside if that’s what’s keeping you from going out. I know how much you value your space, and I’m willing to work with you on that.”
“We both know you can’t control him forever.” I gave him a humorless smile. “I’ll figure it out.”
His gaze narrowed. “So Ryker is what’s bothering you.”
Not a question. Argh.
