Tomas’s footsteps faded, and Cael watched his brother go with a look promising swift and violent death.
Xenia sat upright, whimpering as she brought her hand to the bump on the back of her skull.
Cael’s eyes darted right to her, his face softening. He gripped her door frame so tightly that his knuckles whitened. “Use the cuff in five minutes,” he whispered. “The other stone, the opal. You know how it works right? Just picture where you want to be.
“And come to my room.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
“Come,” Cael said, gesturing to the plaid armchair in front of the lit fireplace in his bedroom.
Xenia limped toward him, her exhausted limbs spent, then sunk into the chair.
Cael stepped up behind her and ran his fingers through her hair, examining the lump. “What the fuck happened?”
Xenia choked back tears. “He was… he was in there waiting for me. As soon as I opened the door, he?—”
“It’s okay,” Cael whispered, placing ice cubes into a towel and holding the compress against the back of her head. She winced as it made contact with her scalp, and Cael ran soothing fingers down her neck. She didn’t know what helped more: the ice or Cael’s soft touch. “You don’t have to tell me the rest. I can guess. He’s done this before. He fixates.” Xenia looked up at him. “You’ll stay in here with me at night from now on.”
Joy frothed through her. But she schooled her features. Didn’t want Cael to know how much the thought delighted her. Despite how it had come about.
“Lock your door behind you every night, then use your cuff to come to my room,” Cael said, lifting her hand and putting it in place of his own to hold the ice-filled towel. “It’ll be safer for usto discuss our findings here every night instead of the stable loft. I can put a windshield on the door to make sure no one hears us.”
“Okay,” she said, with a nervous little giggle, looking down at her crumpled dress. “I don’t…I don’t have anything to sleep in though.” She cocked a playful eyebrow at him.
Cael laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll go back to your room and get your nightclothes and a clean pair of stockings. Were you able to eat anything or are you still hungry?” As if on cue, her stomach grumbled. “I’ll grab us some food as well. Let me borrow your cuff. I’ll lock your bedroom door behind me, then use it to come back here.”
Cael turned to leave, but Xenia grabbed his wrist, stroking her thumb across his racing pulse.
“Thank you,” she said, peering up at him. “You’re always saving me. I wish I wasn’t such a burden. That I was stronger. That I could?—”
“Hey.” Cael rounded the chair, then knelt at her feet. “None of that. There are many kinds of strength. Just because yours doesn’t come with a wicked right hook or the ability to summon the wind doesn’t make it less powerful. Yourmindis your weapon, Xenia. You’ve used it to bring me to my knees a time or two, remember?” She blushed. “And I’m happy to be the brawn to your brains.”
She smiled. “Still, that was a tremendous risk you took for me. Exposing yourself to your brother.”
He stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. “Keeping you safe isnevera risk. I feel half responsible for getting you into this mess in the first place.”
“Only half responsible?”
Cael smirked, then leaned down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Wait here for me. And try not to make any more poor decisions while I’m gone.”
Xenia huffed. “You’rea poor decision.”
Cael pulled back, sadness spearing through his eyes, as he muttered, “I know,” then turned away and left the room.
Xenia blew out a breath, wanting to shout after him that it was just a stupid joke.
He wasn’t a poor decision.
He was the best one she’d ever made.
One she’d keep making forever.
If only he’d let her.
“It wasthe most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen,” Cael said to Xenia, who was seated in the armchair across from him and munching on a slice of roast chicken.
Well, second most.
