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“How far, exactly?”
“Maybe fifty to a hundred yards. Not enough to use effectively to travel between lands.”
“Hmm,” I acknowledged.
A minute of silence later and I was climbing out of the bath. I snatched a towel and briskly patted myself down.
Casimir rose out of the water and grabbed his own towel. “It’s sort of like teleporting but I don’t really understand the magic behind it.”
“I’m half Dianic witch. I know exactly what she just did,” I threw back, tying the soft grey robe with a little more force than necessary. It was called jumping, but I didn’t feel like quizzing him to see if he knew any witch vocabulary at the moment.
“Raven, I didn’t mean to insult your knowledge of witch powers.”
“Trust me, that’s not what you’ve insulted.”
“Oh? Care to elaborate?”
“Are you being serious?”
“Yes.”
I blinked.
His eyebrows drew close together. “You believe I’ve wronged you in some way?”
“Yes.”
Did he, though?It certainly felt like he had, despite my inner voice’s attempt to be reasonable.
“Then by all means, explain the trespasses against you.”
“Alright. One,” I held up my hand and started counting off on my fingers, “you spaced the fact that yourloverwas arriving and expecting to stay in your rooms. Two, there is no security measure to keep said lover out of your private quarters. Three, you failed to mention you have a lover. Four, you failed to mention that your lover is extremely powerful. Five, you failed to mention that your lover is a Dianic witch, from Eastbourne, no less. My mother lived in Eastbourne for a time. Vera could very well figure out my parentage since I’m positive she knows my mother.”
I made a fist because I’d run out of fingers. “Six, refer back to offense number three. … and five.”
“Is that all?”
“No. When she called youloveryou said nothing. Not a word to correct it.” Showing he already had the power to hurt me might cost me in the end, but I was on a roll.
Casimir nodded grimly. “You’re right, I should have nipped that one in the bud. I was more focused on keeping you two from harming one another. Apologies.”
He tied his towel around his waist and I fought to keep my eyes up. Damned sexy male. This was not the time to think about sex. To imagine our damp bodies sliding against one another. No, not the time at all.
The Shadow’s nostrils flared.Mighty Minerva! Kill these naughty thoughts!I couldn’t go downstairs smelling like I needed a good shagging, true as it may have been.
“I concede you have a point—or five—but please allow me to address each. One, I did forget Vera was coming here. My only excuse is the Universe suddenly threw my soulmate into the forefront of my life, brought her here badly broken, and showed me a formidable being with a beautiful soul for whom I would move mountains to keep safe and close to me forever. I’ve thought of little else since. You consume my every thought, Little Bird.”
The big Shadow looked like he was going to come towards me then thought better of it. I waited, wanting to hear what else he had to say.
“Two,” he continued, “yes, Vera has set many wards at Embour. She is powerful and trustworthy. She’s worked for and with us for decades. Even so, her magical services have been bound in blood to protect our interests. She cannot harm us. She cannot work against us. Every loophole has been addressed.”
“Aside from her moving about the citadel freely.”
“No, she can only get into these rooms.”
“Where she can cast spells, throw them at someone who is not a Shadow demon.” And because this was where she stayed during her visits.
“Vera has to be able to cast some of her spells to create and reinforce the wards. But she has limits and cannot kill anyone within these walls. She reacted to your magic defensively.”
