Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Noel
It was fucking hard to step back from Daniel when all Noel wanted was to keep kissing him. Hell, he wanted to cart him off somewhere more private and do a lot more. Five years of longing had swamped his entire body, and he was fairly shaking with need.
But Daniel didn’t trust him, and he had good reason. Noel was going to have to rebuild that trust, and he had every intention of doing just that. Though keeping his hands off him during that build was going to be difficult.
There was a knock on the office door, and Daniel swept past him to open it and let Xavier into his office. Xavier paused and cocked his head, obviously taking in the tension.
“Everything okay in here?” he asked.
“Yes, everything is fine,” Daniel grumbled. “But I still don’t want to work with him.”
“I need you to do this, Daniel. I have confirmed through my own sources that the Aurulus Amulet has officially been stolen.”
Daniel’s head snapped up. “That’s the requested item in that post I showed you. They really got it?”
Xavier nodded. “You know the power it wields. We have to get it back.”
Daniel walked to his desk and sat down. He pushed his tangled emotions over Noel aside to focus.
“You guys better settle in, because this is going to take a while.” He pulled up the list of everything they knew that had been stolen.
“So, they’ve got the amulet. Now some of this other stuff is making more sense.
” He read off the list that included a crystal of divination, a staff of invisibility, and a sword that was reputed to be forever sharp—one that could cut through anything.
He sat back and sighed. “Talk about a recipe for ultimate power.”
Noel cleared his throat. “From what I understand, the Aurulus Amulet can give its user the power to control the magic of anyone near them. Does it also have the power of suggestion?”
“It does,” Xavier answered. “It should have been destroyed long ago, but the sorcerer who protected it is a good man. Trustworthy. And powerful. I still say he would have accounted for the possibility of someone who could mist through walls. He would have had wards in place.” Xavier stared at the list of stolen items as he crossed one ankle over his knee. “I suspect it’s another sorcerer.”
Noel looked between the two. “According to Warner, whoever did this had to have gone through the walls.”
“I need to speak to him,” Xavier said. “Maybe he knows more than he thinks.” He stood. “I’ll get Lake and warp to him, talk to him in person.” He gave Daniel a pointed look. “I suggest you let your tracking programs do their thing while you take today to talk with Noel.”
Daniel scowled but didn’t look his way. “I’ve got too much to do. This isn’t the only job I’m working, you know.”
Xavier leaned down and placed his hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “It’s more important than you realize.”
Daniel’s eyes went wide as he stared up at his boss. It was like they were having a silent conversation because Xavier gave him a slow nod, which made Daniel’s gaze fly to Noel.
“What am I missing here?” Noel asked.
“Nothing.” Daniel turned away, going back to his screen as Xavier left. “It’s nothing. This can’t be happening.” He muttered the last sentence mostly under his breath.
He kept muttering as he typed on his keyboard. It was wild watching him type with the claws extended on his hands, and Noel wondered if it was more comfortable with them out. When they’d been together in the past, Daniel had retracted them, a good thing since he’d had his hands all over Noel.
Fuck, he missed that.
The kiss they’d just shared had been just as explosive as it had been in the past. They had a strong connection he didn’t understand—he only knew that the banshee had stayed on his mind all this time, and touching him made Noel feel like anything was possible.
“I’d like for you to give me a chance, Daniel,” Noel said softly. “Like I said, I’ve missed you.”
“We barely know each other, so I don’t see how.”
Noel just shook his head. “Your anger at me after all this time completely contradicts what you’re saying.
If we hadn’t gotten to know each other so well, neither of us would still be feeling this.
And that kiss proved we still are. There’s something special here.
Something I’ve never felt before in my life.
I still need to explain what happened. Daniel, I don’t want to give up on what this could be. ”
“Let’s just focus on finding that amulet.
” Daniel didn’t look at him, just stared at one of his screens.
“I’m…pissed, and I’ll need some time to work through that.
You fucking lied to me.” He finally looked at Noel.
“I know it was only three days, but we connected on a level I’ve never experienced, and I can’t help but think you would have told me the truth if you’d felt that as well. ”
“I did feel it.”
“Then why did it take you years to contact me?”
“There were reasons.” Noel leaned forward and placed his hand on Daniel’s thigh.
He could tell this wasn’t the right time, could only hope Daniel would be open to talking later.
“I never could get you out of my head. And I came back here not knowing if you’d be in a relationship.
Just hoping you weren’t and that I could have a chance to make things right. ”
“This is crazy,” Daniel muttered as he pushed Noel’s hand off his leg. “Just back off for now, okay? My emotions are all kinds of fucked up, and for a banshee, that’s not a good thing.”
“I’m aware.”
“Yeah, apparently you are. I still can’t believe you hid your ability from me.”
“It’s ingrained in me. If we’d been together longer, I would have told you.”
“And whose fault is that?”
“Mine. All mine.”
“You got that right.” He started tapping on his keyboard. “Let’s just get to work on that amulet, because fate is a bitch.”
Noel didn’t know what he meant by that, but he was happy to just sit here and work with Daniel. He’d get through to him. He had no choice.