My eyes widen.The threads of fate.Like that web of light and dark I keep seeing when I tunnel deep enough. The ties that bind us all together.
“Exactly,”Wilder says, seemingly reading my thoughts.“Allmagic is tied to the fates in our souls, our bodies, our hearts. Those who can travel deep enough can reach out more than just physically.”
“Through our minds.”
Wilder nods.
“What kinds of magic are capable of this?”
He swallows, not breaking my gaze. And I realize to anyone else in the room, it must look like we’re lost in each other’s stares because they can’t hear our conversation.
“Magic that’s only whispered about. Magic you usually don’t want others to know that you have.”
He looks away, and I’m suddenly colder. Desperate to know more.
Is our ability to mind whisper because of his magic or mine? Or both?
Does he know of any others who can do it?
What happens if the Fae find out we can speak like this?
Why is it a secret?
“You have a lot of questions rolling around in that mind of yours?”He smirks, not meeting my gaze.
I do. And I shouldn’t be entertaining any of them with my enemy. Especially when I’m transparent to him. He’ll use it against me.
“Well, I suppose you should get back to it then.” I shift in my seat. “I’m sure you have a lot of time to make up for.”
Wilder doesn’t bother scanning the room for the females watching him. Instead, his gaze finds me.
“I’m tired, so I’ll leave you to it.” I stand but nearly trip on my dress.
Wilder is on his feet before I can blink, catching me. My fingers clutch his shirt, thumbs hooking where it’s open in the front and grazing over a marking on his chest.
I swear his runes whisper. They shift on his skin. So slow, I wonder if I’m the only one who sees it.
Pulling back, I try to gather myself. I’ve had too much wine, and I should have left when Callum and Greer did.
“Goodnight.” I nod sharply.
Wilder narrows his eyes, watching me sway on my feet. “I’ll walk you to your room.”
“Why?” I glare up at him. “I’m not inviting you in.”
“Maybe I’m a gentleman.”
“Feed me a lie I might actually believe.”
Wilder steps close, and even with his hands at his sides, I feel his magic reaching for me.“Maybe it gives me an excuse to stare at you a few minutes longer.”
His voice purrs in my ears. My chest. My heart.
It’s a lie. Exactly what I asked for. But like he granted my wish, he says it in a way that makes me want to believe him. I want to think I could come close to comparing to the perfection that surrounds me in this room when I’m simply a human.
“There is nothing simple about being a human.”
“I hate that you can read my thoughts.”
