Chapter 16
Tess
The shadows swirled and thickened, wrapping around us like a dark blanket. The air grew heavy, charged with Ciaran's magic. Sounds muffled, scents faded, and the world beyond our cocoon of darkness ceased to exist.
"Where did you go, little librarian?" Valen's voice sliced through the silence, unnervingly close. His footsteps echoed, a steady rhythm of predator stalking prey. "Come out, come out, wherever you are."
My muscles coiled, ready to bolt, but Ciaran's arm snaked around my waist, anchoring me. His other hand found the small of my back, and I instinctively leaned into him. My racing heart began to slow, fear giving way to a dizzying cocktail of safety and exhilaration.
Unbidden, images from countless romance novels flashed through my mind. How many times had I read about a heroine in the arms of a mysterious, powerful man? But this... this was different. This was real.
Ciaran's chest rose and fell against my back, his heartbeat a steady drum I could feel through my core. His scent enveloped me—night-blooming jasmine and spice, with an underlying note of something wild and dangerous. Heat radiated from his body, chasing away the library's chill.
Valen's footsteps grew louder, closer. I held my breath as he passed, mere inches away. The air stirred with his movement, carrying a whiff of expensive cologne and barely contained rage. Ciaran's arms tightened, and the shadows seemed to pulse, growing denser. His fingers flexed against my waist, sending a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with fear.
A low growl rumbled from Valen's throat as he paused directly in front of us. His nostrils flared, scenting the air. His eyes, gleaming with predatory focus, swept over our hiding spot.
"Impossible," he muttered, frustration etched in every syllable. "You shouldn't be able to hide from me, little librarian. I can hear every heartbeat, smell every human for miles. Yet you've vanished like smoke."
He continued down the aisle, each step punctuated by increasingly colorful curses. Finally, he snarled, "I know you're here somewhere. This isn't over. Next time, I won't be so easy on you. You'll learn your place soon enough."
His footsteps faded, leaving behind a tense silence. Ciaran's grip loosened slightly, but his arms remained a protective cage around me. We stood frozen, barely breathing, for what felt like an eternity. I was acutely aware of every point where our bodies touched, the warmth of his chest against my back, the strength in his arms.
"He's gone," Ciaran murmured, his breath warm against my ear, sending another shiver through me. The shadows around us thinned, the veil of magic dissipating.
With Valen's presence fading, I stepped back, immediately missing Ciaran's warmth. The tension in my shoulders eased, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Ciaran's silver eyes studied me intently, a slight frown creasing his brow. The concern in his gaze made my heart skip a beat.
"The pendant," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Why didn't it protect you from his compulsion earlier? It should have."
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "The pendant?" I echoed, my hand instinctively reaching for the cool metal resting against my collarbone. "I... I don't understand. What do you mean it should have protected me?"
Ciaran's eyes widened slightly. "You mean you're not wearing it?" He glanced at my neck, as if confirming its absence. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that seemed uncharacteristically frustrated for the usually composed Fae. "Where is it now? Please tell me you didn't leave it somewhere unsafe."
Heat crept into my cheeks, partly from embarrassment and partly from Ciaran's proximity as he leaned in to examine my neck. "I... I put it back in the box," I admitted sheepishly. "It doesn't belong to me. It felt wrong to keep something so valuable, let alone wear it every day."
Ciaran's expression softened, but he shook his head. "Tempest, the library gave it to you. It chose you. And it can't protect you if you don't wear it."
As if on cue, the shelves around us began to shift and ripple like putty. I gasped, stepping closer to Ciaran instinctively. But as quickly as it had started, the movement stopped. There, nestled between two ancient tomes, sat the small wooden box containing the pendant.
Ciaran raised an eyebrow. "Well, it seems the library is reinforcing its opinion on this matter. It clearly wants you to have it."
I reached out hesitantly and took the box. As I held it, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Why would the library respond to me like this?
I was no one special, just a random human who had stumbled into Drakehaven by sheer luck. There were countless other Supes here, powerful beings who had spent their entire lives in this magical world. Yet the library chose to interact with me?
What if this was all some kind of mistake? What if I wasn't meant to be here at all, and this was just a fluke? But then again, the library itself seemed to be telling me otherwise.
Pushing aside my doubts, I looked up at Ciaran, suddenly aware of how close we were standing. "What exactly is it?" I asked, running my fingers over the intricate carvings. "You said it would protect me, but how?"
Ciaran's expression turned thoughtful, his silver eyes holding mine. "I'm not entirely certain of all its capabilities," he admitted. "But if it's what I think it is, it contains the essence of a dragon."
My eyes widened. "A dragon? But how—"
"The fire you experienced when you first touched it," he explained, "that allowed you to access the Flameborn Lore. And dragons, among their many remarkable traits, are impervious to vampire compulsion."
I opened the box, gazing at the fire opal nestled within. Its depths seemed alive with flickering flames. "Are there other things it can do?"
A small smile played at the corners of Ciaran's mouth. "I suspect we've only scratched the surface of its abilities. But for now," he gently took the pendant from the box and held it out to me, "let's focus on keeping you safe from Valen and his ilk. The library has made its choice clear. Will you accept its gift?"
"Fine, I'll wear it," I said, my voice coming out breathier than I intended. "But only if you share that cake with me." I winced internally at my awkward attempt at negotiation, heat rising to my cheeks. Where had that come from?
Ciaran's eyes darkened, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Cake for protection? That seems like a fair trade," he said, his voice low and smooth. "I'll gladly share the cake if you'll allow me to put this on you."
I nodded, not trusting my voice. Ciaran stepped closer, the pendant dangling from his fingers. "Turn around," he murmured, the words more of a caress than a command.
I complied, my breath catching as I felt the heat of his body behind me. His hand brushed my shoulder. "Hold up your hair for me," he instructed softly.
With trembling fingers, I gathered my hair, exposing the nape of my neck. I could feel Ciaran's gaze on my skin, and goosebumps erupted along my arms.
He moved closer, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from his chest. The pendant's chain whispered against my collarbone as he brought it around my neck. His fingers, warm and sure, brushed against my skin as he fastened the clasp, lingering perhaps a moment longer than necessary.
Then, to my surprise, I felt the soft press of his lips at the nape of my neck. A jolt of electricity sparked from that point of contact, racing through my body. His breath tickled my ear as he murmured, "There. It suits you perfectly."
I let my hair fall, turning slowly to face him. "Thank you," I whispered, my hand instinctively reaching for the pendant. As my fingers touched the warm stone, I realized I couldn't see it.
Ciaran's brow furrowed, his eyes fixed on my neck. "Tempest," he said slowly, "where's the pendant?"
Confused, I looked down, expecting to see the fire opal nestled against my skin. But there was nothing there. I could feel its weight, the warmth of it against my chest, but it was invisible.
"I can feel it," I said, bewildered. "But I can't see it."
Ciaran's eyes widened slightly. "Fascinating," he breathed. "It seems the pendant has its own form of protection. It's become invisible to anyone but you." He reached out, his hand hovering near my collarbone. "May I?"
I nodded, my breath catching in my throat as his fingers neared my skin. When he touched the spot where the pendant should be, a shiver ran through me. His fingers were warm, gentle, and the contact sent a jolt of electricity through my body. I felt my heart rate quicken, and heat rushed to my cheeks.
Ciaran's touch lingered, tracing the invisible outline of the pendant. I struggled to keep my breathing even, hyper-aware of every point of contact between his fingers and my skin.
"Remarkable," he said, his voice low and husky. He slowly withdrew his hand, and I had to stop myself from leaning into his touch. "It appears we've discovered another of its abilities. This will certainly make it harder for anyone to try and take it from you."
Feeling flustered, I blurted out a bit too loudly, "Well, that's certainly handy. Should we go to my office to eat that cake now?"
Ciaran's lips quirked into a mischievous smile, seemingly amused by my flustered state. "Why leave? We have everything we need right here." His hand brushed the small of my back, guiding me towards a nearby loveseat I hadn't noticed before. Had it always been there?
We sat down, Ciaran positioning himself close enough that our thighs touched. The contact sent a thrill through me, and I felt my cheeks warm. With a graceful wave of his hand, a fork materialized from the shadows.
"How did you—" I began, then shook my head, laughing softly. "Never mind. I should probably stop being surprised by now."
Ciaran chuckled, cutting into the cake with the shadow fork. "I hope you never stop being surprised, Tempest. Your wonder is... refreshing." He lifted a forkful of the rich chocolate cake, bringing it to my lips. "Open up," he said softly, his eyes never leaving mine.
I leaned back slightly, feeling flustered. "Oh, I can feed myself, really," I protested weakly, reaching for the fork.
Ciaran's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Humor me, Tempest," he said, his voice low and persuasive. "Consider it part of your education in Supe culture. Sometimes, sharing food can be... an intimate gesture."
My heart raced at his words, and I found myself torn between embarrassment and curiosity. After a moment's hesitation, I relented. "Alright," I murmured.
Feeling heat rush to my cheeks, I parted my lips, allowing him to feed me. The cake was decadent, melting on my tongue. I savored the bite, hyper-aware of Ciaran's intense gaze.
"Delicious, isn't it?" he murmured, his voice low and intimate. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. He took a bite himself, then set the fork down, his expression growing more serious.
Ciaran's silver eyes studied me intently, a mix of concern and something deeper flickering in their depths. He reached out, his fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind my ear. The touch lingered.
"Tempest," he began, his voice soft but tinged with an underlying urgency, "there's something I've been meaning to ask you. I've noticed... tensions... between you and some of the other residents here." His gaze held mine, searching. "I can't help but wonder if there's more going on than you've let on. Has anyone been giving you trouble?"
The abrupt change in topic caught me off guard, but there was something in Ciaran's tone that made me hesitate to brush off his concern. I swallowed hard, both from the rich chocolate and the weight of the question. "It's not—I mean, most Supes have been wonderful. But there have been... incidents."
"What kind of incidents?" Ciaran asked, his fingers brushing my chin as he wiped away a smudge of chocolate. The gentle touch sent shivers down my spine, momentarily distracting me from the seriousness of his inquiry.
"Nothing too serious, but..." I trailed off, shrugging. Then, meeting his concerned gaze, I found myself continuing, "There's this group of dragon rider applicants. A couple of them, actually. They've been... difficult."
Ciaran leaned in closer, his proximity making it hard to focus. "Go on," he encouraged softly.
"At first, it was just snide comments, you know? But lately, it seems to be escalating," I admitted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “Today was the worst so far.”
A flash of something dark and dangerous flickered in Ciaran's eyes, there and gone so quickly I almost thought I'd imagined it. But the sudden tension in his jaw told me I hadn't.
"I see," he said, his voice low and controlled. "Well, hopefully, this pendant will provide you with an extra layer of protection." He gently touched the spot where the invisible pendant lay against my skin.
My skin tingled at his touch. As I gathered my thoughts, another occurred to me. "You know, I've noticed shadows moving strangely sometimes. Almost as if they were watching me. Was that... was that you?"
Ciaran's lips curved into a small smile. "Guilty as charged. I hope you don't mind that I've been keeping an eye on you."
"I—no, I don't mind," I stammered, feeling flustered. "But why? Why have you been following me so much? And who are you, exactly?"
He set down the fork, turning to face me fully. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his touch sending sparks across my skin. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, tantalizing kiss.
When he pulled back, his silver eyes were dark with an emotion I couldn't quite name. "You'll find out soon enough, Tempest," he murmured, his voice a promise.
And with that cryptic response, he stood, leaving me breathless and more confused than ever on the loveseat, the taste of chocolate and Ciaran lingering on my lips.