31. Kat
Kat
T he week after our return fell back into a routine. Exploring the city (and its jewellers). Training with Faolán a couple of times a week. Attempting to learn some control over my magic… and failing .
Rose kept up her hopeful smile, but I sank deeper into despair. I hadn’t been able to make contact with any power inside me. I could only unreliably affect the stains on my fingers.
At least Bastian wasn’t avoiding me. Not deliberately, anyway—his work just kept him busy, so we only tended to see each other for dinner or lunch.
This all disappointed Ella, who seemed convinced that somehow us spending time alone together on the road would’ve resulted in us sleeping together. “You, him, a campfire… One cosy bed in the hayloft. I have no idea how nothing happened, to be honest.”
I was just glad to have her back, even if I had to force myself to sit on a separate settee so I didn’t forget myself and touch her.
By the time the ball arrived, Rose and I had visited every jeweller in the city. No one admitted to making the necklace, so my investigation hinged on Caelus. He’d be there tonight—I’d managed to get that piece of information out of Brynan.
Outside, the sun dipped towards the horizon as I slipped a hip flask of arianmêl in a thigh garter and dressed in deep, glimmering purple, close to black. It almost matched the stains on my fingers, I realised as I patted raspberry-toned rouge on my lips.
Ari had given me a little pot of powder that disappeared on the skin until it caught the light in iridescent gold and violet, and I dusted that over the high points of my cheeks and my collarbones. A few specks caught in my hair, and I laughed as I watched the effect in the mirror.
I almost looked fae.
Tugging on a pair of sheer black gloves with lace cuffs, I headed into the sitting room. I looked the part. Gods willing, I’d be able to play it, too.
My stomach bubbled with nerves, and I poured a glass of brandy to settle myself. Except Bastian only kept regular spirits in our suite. No little drunken buzz for me.
I was putting the decanter back when a knock sounded at the door. Urien strode in, carrying a large case. “Clothing delivery. A lot of clothing.” He raised his eyebrows, and I suddenly felt self-conscious, so when he offered to take it to my room, I declined the offer.
As soon as he left and I tried to lift the case, I regretted it. Ari had mentioned she was throwing in “a few extras”—she and I had very different definitions of “a few.”
I was bent over, half carrying, half dragging it towards my room when the door to the antechamber opened and Bastian appeared.
His eyes bulged, and when I looked down I realised why—my cleavage was… very cleavage-y—almost escaping my gown’s low neckline, in fact.
He cleared his throat as I straightened. “Hiding a body?”
“Just one.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “Oh, well, in that case.” He shrugged like it was no big deal and came closer. “I’ll take care of it.”
I wasn’t sure if he was still talking about the fictional body or the case.
“I got you something. Some things , actually.” He pulled a flat box from his inside pocket.
“You didn’t—”
“Are we really going to have this conversation? ‘Bastian, you didn’t have to.’ ‘No, Kat, but I wanted to. That’s how gifts work.’” He cocked his head. “Anything more to add?”
It seemed the Bastian I knew from Albion had woken today. I wasn’t sure what to call him. Playful Bastian? Intimate Bastian?
Devastating Bastian?
Somehow I swallowed and raised one shoulder like he wasn’t quite so devastating in his perfectly tailored jacket that he’d left unbuttoned to reveal the sheer black shirt beneath.
“Only thank you .”
Inside lay a pair of gloves that matched my gown—sheer, blackened purple with flecks that glittered in the light. “How did you…?” I blinked up at him.
“I have spies everywhere. It wasn’t so difficult to find out what you planned to wear, and Ariadne owed me a favour, so…”
I removed the black gloves. “I’m sure you could’ve used the favour on something more worthwhile.”
“I’m sure I couldn’t have.” He kept his tone light and teasing, but an undercurrent ran through it, and I pulled on the first glove, giving it far more attention than needed. “Before you do.” He covered my hand, stopping me donning the second glove.
I stilled and stamped down any other reaction to his touch. He’d already eased my poison at lunch time, so this didn’t resonate with magic. And yet…
It was Bastian. The one I knew. The one who tangled me up so fucking easily.
“The other something,” he murmured and dipped into his pocket again.
This time he produced a ring. Silver toned metal but cooler than true silver. Platinum, perhaps? A clear stone shaped like a star. Smaller stones surrounded it in star-shaped settings. The jewels flashed with tiny sparks of rainbow light—they had to be diamonds.
I was already shaking my head before I realised. A platinum and diamond ring? I couldn’t… I couldn’t .
“It counters fae charm,” he went on in that same private voice. “I thought you could get rid of that necklace and everything it reminds you of.”
I fingered the pearls at my throat. Their weight dragged on me as though unCavendish constantly had a hand around my throat. I probably didn’t need it for the investigation anymore—Caelus knew what it looked like.
Yet, much as I wanted to get rid of it… “I can’t accept this. It’s too expensive. They’re diamonds, Bastian.”
“ Are they?” He gave the ring a wide-eyed look. “Thank the Stars for that, otherwise I’d have to pay the jeweller an unpleasant visit to ask why he didn’t make what I asked for. Please, Kat. Take the ring.” He held it out. “I had it made for you, so it’s not like I can return it.”
I tugged at the necklace and swallowed. Perhaps I could throw it on the fire. I should probably sell it—it had to be worth a lot—but I’d rather watch it melt. Did pearls burn?
“I’ll… borrow it. You can have it back when I leave.”
A muscle in his cheek twitched, and I thought he was going to tell me no. But he snorted a laugh. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Kat.” He placed the ring in my hand. “But I won’t be accepting it back.”
“We’ll see,” I muttered as I slid it onto my middle finger. “A perfect fit.”
“Of course.” His gaze flicked to the necklace. “May I?”
“ Please .”
He sucked in a quick breath, and I realised what I’d said. But he circled behind me and made no comment about how much he liked that word.
The world narrowed as he gathered my hair and placed it over my shoulder. The movement ghosted over my scalp, sending goosebumps chasing down my arms.
I helped hold my hair to one side and counted my breathing, forcing it deep and slow. Bastian’s exhalation tickled behind my ear.
I closed my eyes. I wouldn’t shiver. Mustn’t. Shouldn’t. I was sure the hairs on the back of my neck gave me away, though.
His fingertips feathered over my spine, pulling the necklace tight for an instant. I straightened, taut, breath held, waiting, waiting, waiting.
With a soft click, the tightness disappeared, and he gathered up the necklace.
That terrible weight was gone. I could breathe.
“There.” The word skimmed my sensitised skin, and I must’ve forgotten about control, because I shuddered, eyelids fluttering shut.
When I opened my eyes, he stood before me, closer than he should be, holding the necklace in the scant space between us.
“You’re free.”
Free .
But, no. Not completely. Not from my husband. The fact hung in the air, thick and heavy like cheap perfume.
We stood in it a long while, inhaling that ugly truth. Maybe it was its own kind of poison and if I took in enough, it would kill off my attraction to him. It must’ve destroyed his desire for me. Probably for the best.
And yet.
Neither of us walked away, locked together by our gazes.
Not until a knock sounded at the door, and it was as though my ears popped and I could hear again.
Bastian straightened, a muscle in his jaw rippling as his fist closed around the necklace. “Enter.” It was Business Bastian who spoke, all clipped and formal.
I dragged my attention from him and took my time pulling on the second glove.
“Well, don’t you two make a gorgeous couple?” Rose surveyed us, smile wide.
“We aren’t…” I muttered.
Faolán’s gaze flicked across the small space between us.
Bastian backed away. “Right. I thought Katherine would want an escort for the party. But I see she already has company.”
“Oh, no. You don’t escape that easily.” Rose blocked the doorway.
“Faolán.” Bastian raised an eyebrow at him.
“Hmm. We’ve already discussed it, little flower.” He disentangled himself from her. “It’s best if I escort Kat.”
I should’ve expected it. I shouldn’t be hurt by it. And yet the rejection stung me.
It was sensible. All eyes would be on me. Walking in on Bastian’s arm would only make it look like there was something between us.
So I plastered on a wide smile and gave Faolán a playful bow before checking my gloves and only then placing my hand in the crook of his elbow.
Without looking at us, Bastian offered his arm to Rose, and we set off for a party in my honour.
I felt a lot of things in that moment. Honoured wasn’t one of them.