Chapter 15
This is probably the most dysfunctional team in the history of dysfunctional teams. We haven’t gotten farther than the hallways outside the guest bedrooms, and already Lucas and Valen are scowling at each other, pure hatred rolling off the two men in acrid waves.
I rub my temples. A headache is blooming and there’s no sign that it’ll dissipate anytime soon.
I clear my throat and smooth the dress I slipped on over the blue corset.
The weight of it is made tolerable only by my refusal to add the customary layers of under-skirting.
After all, I don’t want to wear a dress; I must wear a dress.
Otherwise, I risk Valen figuring out that I was seducing him for my schemes earlier.
Unfortunately, without the proper under-attire, the hem is a touch too long with my boots. The matching heels would help, but I’m not wearing fucking heels. I’d rather Valen discover my trickery and turn me into a glacier.
At least there’s a belt that I was able to fasten a pouch to. My loupe, notebook, and pen sit within just in case.
My collarbones are cold, the drop sleeves leaving my shoulders exposed. Lucas practically tripped over himself when he saw me. I mouthed silently with a threatening glare, “Not a fucking word.”
Blessedly, he kept all his little comments to himself.
I clear my throat but fail to break the thick tension in the air. “Perhaps we should discuss the plan. I believe the sphinx will be our most challenging obstacle, unless Valen knows the answer to the riddle?”
Valen’s jaw flickers. “I do not.”
Lucas smirks tauntingly and Valen’s eye twitches when he says, “Useless already.”
I rub my temples harder. Lucas did not take the news of my deal well, though he did a decent job hiding it from me. No, it’s Valen he lets his ire out on.
Valen’s lip curls. “And I’m guessing you have some sort of plan? Enlighten us.”
“We put it to sleep.”
I scoff. “That’s a terrible plan!”
Valen smiles. “I like it.” He extends his hand down the hall. “Please, to the museum. Tori and I will be right behind you.”
I scowl. “We are not going to attempt to put a sphinx to sleep. You just want Lucas to get eaten.”
Valen’s grin widens. “Oh, no. We’re a team. Please. This way.”
Lucas rolls his eyes and shifts his weight. “It’ll be tricky, but I think I can hold her. The problem is, I don’t know how long she’ll stay under, so I’ll need to stay near her to maintain it.”
I wonder if I drank a steaming mug of crazy instead of coffee when I awoke. “No! I may need your assistance getting through any protective enchantments or curses on the amulet.”
Lucas’ eyes glint. “You doubt your ex can help?” Sarcasm drips. “So glad we’re taking him along.”
My head tilts back and I pray to the heavens for patience. “Can we please focus.” Strands of my loose hair fall into my face when I glare at them. “I have an idea.”
A hand brushes my cheek and I jump, eyes darting to Lucas. He tucks the strand back behind my ear. “Excellent.” His fingers linger, my skin tingling from where his thumb strokes me. His smile makes my breath catch. “I love how your devious mind works.”
On a base level, I understand that Lucas is simply being a pain in the ass and baiting Valen.
However, my damn heart didn’t get the notice, and I flush hotly.
I shift out of his hold, my head ducking slightly.
“So. Um.” My train of thought is disrupted.
I smooth my hair back and try my best to ignore how smug Lucas looks, or the flash of violence in Valen’s eyes.
I glance at Valen. “Do you think we could solve the riddle?”
My gesture appeases him, especially when Lucas’ jaw clenches. Valen tilts his head. “I don’t know what the riddle is. Only my father has heard it and lived. We could risk it, but the riddle’s answer might not be logical.”
“But it’s in a sphinx’s nature to always have an answer.”
“Or it could be a simplistic riddle that has a multitude of answers, all of which could technically be correct.” His eyes narrow thoughtfully. “But only one would be the true key to the door. All other answers would mean death.”
I tap my lip, eyes narrowing. “I bet I could solve it…”
Lucas interrupts. “Absolutely not.”
I glare at him. “You doubt my capabilities?”
“No, but this sphinx? It’s a weaver trap.”
I blink. “What?”
“Think about it. There’s only one reason to keep all your rarest and most valuable magical items in a museum instead of a vault.
” He points a finger at Valen. “So you can show off to all your asshole weaver buddies. And why use a sphinx to guard it, instead of a wyvern or a gryphon or some other powerful, dumb creature?” His finger moves to me and my glare turns into a scowl.
“So that weavers like you will march up, tap its shoulder, and ask for the fucking riddle. There’s probably a plate and a saltshaker so you can season yourself while you’re at it. ”
Bitterness tightens my body, but he’s not wrong. I chew on this theory, scuffing my shoe. My gaze turns to Valen. “Anything to add to that?”
Valen’s hands slide into his pockets and he shrugs. “It’s conceivable.”
Lucas brightens. “Exactly. Which is why we should put it to sleep.”
I stomp and hiss an infuriated, “Lucas.” I throw my palm towards him. “You couldn’t put The Arachnomicon to sleep. Why do you think you can do it to something so powerful as a sphinx?”
“Because.” His arrogance grates on my last nerve. “The Arachnomicon absorbs magic. The sphinx doesn’t work like that.”
“She can wield magic like a weaver. She’ll incant and counter-curse you.”
“Which is why we have to do it before she can speak.”
I hesitate. Maybe I’m going crazy, because Lucas is starting to make sense. “Catch her by surprise…”
“And muzzle her.” Lucas is too excited to notice the uncomfortable glances Valen and I share. “Then I’ll hold her while you get the Amulet of Acerabus.”
“If you think you can hold her…” I shake my head, my long hair tickling my exposed shoulder blades.
Fucking dress. I stretch my arm back to scratch viciously.
“This is beyond stupid. We can’t face a creature of this caliber without a well-researched plan.
Valen, take us to the main library. I’m sure you have a bestiary in there, right? ”
The stupid drop sleeves constrict my arm movement and I can’t quite reach the itchiest spot. I bare my teeth and twist. “Motherfucking useless shit—”
Lucas bends down and flips a blade out from his boot.
It spins in his palm and he steps forward.
My breath catches, the blade hot from his body against my exposed skin.
It slices through the sleeves in efficient flicks.
My face warms and I accept the tattered remains of the sleeves with a soft, “Thank you.”
He smirks and uses the blunt edge of the knife under my chin to tilt my face up. “You’re welcome, my sweet Torment.”
Heat washes through me, my skin rippling in bumps. Lucas smiles slow, wicked, and his gaze shifts to glint mockingly at Valen. “Ready to be useful, blueblood?”
My hair is gathered from my shoulders and I only have a moment to blink in confusion before a fist tightens.
I’m tugged back with enough force that I stumble to land against Valen’s solid chest. Tingling pleasure erupts over my scalp, my lashes fluttering, my chest pumping against the constraints of the corset, as Valen wraps my long hair in a slow twist until it’s around his fist. My hands reach back and clutch Valen’s hips in a desperate anchor.
Magic intensifies the sensation and I sink my teeth in my lower lip.
Valen releases and my hair remains in an intricate knot at the base of my skull. His short nails scrape down my neck to drag along my spine. My body instinctively undulates, the intense arousal from earlier returning in full, pulsing force.
My eyes close when his lips brush the shell of my ear. “Have any other needs for me to fulfill, my love?”
His fingers snag on the edge of my dress in a sinful tug and I gasp, my eyes fluttering back open. Lucas’ cold, deadly glare is trained on Valen. His blade spins leisurely in his hand, his matte black rings glinting a hint of gold.
I clear my throat and step away from Valen quickly, but the fucking skirts catch on the toe of my boot.
I collide with Lucas’ chest and his strong arms wrap around me.
His hands curl around my waist and tighten like he’s clutching something precious.
My heart pulses and I shove away. “Okay, that’s enough.
Library. Now. We have a sphinx to outsmart. ”
I gather my skirts in my fists and march down the hall. Not grabbing the matching fan for the dress was a mistake. I could really use the airflow to cool my flushed body.
The entire journey through the massive estate is filled with Valen and Lucas’ endless bickering. It’s the only way I can tell they’re keeping up with my fast pace.
“A lot of empty rooms within such a large estate. What happened? No one can stand you long enough to live here?” Lucas quips.
Valen drawls his retort. “I suppose most things seem numerous if you’re limited to counting on your fingers.”
“A stupid magician joke. So clever. I can see why Tori stayed with you.”
My heart clenches and I increase my pace. Valen laughs low and cruel. “Yes, she does keep returning to me. I am rather good at giving her what she needs.”
“I give her what she needs,” Lucas snaps and I nearly groan.
“Do you? She seemed rather pent-up when she was writhing under me earlier.”
“She was pretending, asshole, to keep me safe.”
“Oh no, I mean, just now in her room—”
I yell loud enough to cut off Valen and drown out Lucas’ snarl, “We’re here!” And kick open the massive library doors.