Chapter 21 #3
Clio pulled her thoughts back to the crisis at hand. ‘Mrs Coggins would have killed you and Anna for far less worthy motives. You did what you had to do to protect your daughter, Violet. Now, let us protect you.’
Violet exhaled a shaky breath. ‘All right. I put my fate into your hands.’
It took the rest of the night and early evening to devise a plan. Though she nearly refused to leave Anna, they were able to convince Violet to return to London with Thomas as her escort and report directly to Superintendent MacDougal.
Violet would give him all the evidence he needed against Mrs Coggins and return to Lady Langley’s post haste once arrests had been made.
They would tell the papers that Superintendent MacDougal had been keeping her in protective custody the entire time to ensure her safety while seeking the evidence they needed to prove Mrs Coggins’ guilt.
She only agreed if Clio promised to keep a close eye on her daughter while she was gone. A task imminently more pleasant than spending any more time with Lady Langley. Especially when the duchess learned Thomas had once more been called back to London on business.
It was an interminable six days, seven hours and thirteen minutes until Thomas and Violet were able to rejoin the house party.
By that time, the scandal had blazed throughout England.
Lady Langley was salivating to hear all the gory details while loudly proclaiming she never trusted the horrible Mrs Coggins, and Anna had completely won over Sir Robin.
Clio had just left Anna after a day of reading fairy tales, practising to be ravens – except for Sir Robin, who was already an expert – and pretending the floor was burning brimstone while needing to get from one side of the room to the other without touching it.
Clio needed to get ready for dinner, and Anna only let her go because Sir Robin stayed to watch over Anna.
Clio’s familiar understood the gravity of his assignment, and while Clio was sure he missed the treats Cynthia snuck him from the table, he was willing to make the sacrifice until Anna’s mother returned.
She had just finished dressing and dismissed her maid when the door creaked open.
Thomas stood with the hallway light behind him.
He still wore his greatcoat, and his boots were dusty with travel.
He tapped his silver-tipped cane on the floor.
She was reminded of the first time she saw him in Viscount Beachley’s home.
He was just as breathtakingly handsome as that fateful day, but far more dear to her heart.
‘Finally,’ she breathed before rushing across the room and claiming his mouth.
He sucked on her bottom lip, his teeth scraping over her skin as his fingers tugged deliciously at her hair.
It would be so easy to sink into the sensations. Lose herself in the heat of his touch. But after so many days, she still needed to speak with him first. She couldn’t cross this threshold without making her intentions clear.
‘Stop.’ She pushed against his chest, and her heart melted when he immediately did as she asked, pulling back when it was clear everything in him wanted to push forward. This was why she would give him her heart. He was a man she could love without losing herself.
He was breathing heavily; his dark brow lifted in a silent question.
‘I love you, Thomas Grey.’ The words escaped before she knew she was going to say them.
But every syllable resonated in her soul.
No matter what happened this night, or every night in her future, she needed him to know that her admission days before hadn’t been said out of desperation.
Her love for him would endure when all else faded.
‘I love you too, Clio. No matter what happens between us. You must know. I would tear the gods from their heavens, vanquish every ghost, destroy any devil who dared to hurt you.’
‘I am so sorry you will never be able to have children.’ A well of grief sprang up within her. Not for herself, but for Thomas.
His eyes grew glassy with unshed tears, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. She didn’t need Helena’s gift to read his mind. Doubt dwelled there. And fear that she wouldn’t want to be with him, no matter how much they might love each other.
She pressed on, needing him to hear her truth. ‘But I am not sorry the fates have put us together.’
She watched expressions shift over him like a sunset. Surprise. Disbelief. Finally, tentative hope. ‘You don’t believe they have cursed you by having you waste your love on me?’
She laughed only to stop the tears. He had no idea how much she treasured him. But he was about to find out. ‘Love is never wasted, Thomas. Have I ever told you what happened to my mother?’
It was an abrupt topic change. Thomas’ mouth turned down as his gaze clouded with confusion.
‘No.’
‘She fell in love. When I was six and Ellie was only three.’
‘Did your father know?’
Clio laughed. ‘My father only knew my mother for a night. The same is true for Ellie’s father. My mother knew she wanted children, but she never wanted a husband. So, she found men who could give her offspring and nothing more. Until she met Sebastian McClure.’
Thomas exhaled slowly. ‘Was she happy with this man?’
‘For a spell. She would leave us at Aunt Rowan’s for days at a time to be with him.
At first, I was happy because she was happy.
But Aunt Rowan never approved. I heard them arguing about it the last time she left us.
He wanted her to renounce her powers and leave us with Aunt Rowan.
Start a new life with him in a different village. ’
‘So, she left you?’
The pain of her mother’s rejection still burned in her chest. She never told anyone this story because those closest to her already knew and all others didn’t deserve to know.
Something about putting her deepest shame into words made it fresh again.
But Thomas had welcomed her into the darkest corners of his heart. She owed him the same honesty.
Clio shifted her gaze away from his too-assessing stare. Despite what she said, the man was remarkably good at noticing details. ‘She left me. And Ellie.’
‘Clio…’ Thomas’ deep voice was so full of anguish for her, it was an unexpected balm for her aching soul.
She shook her head, knowing if she didn’t tell the whole thing at once, she would never get the words out.
‘That wasn’t the worst of it. She rejected us, but she also rejected her magic.
Her power. The pieces of herself that made Mother who she truly was.
She told Aunt Rowan she would never practise her craft again.
She used blood magic to bind her powers. ’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘Blood magic is ancient and results in the most powerful spells. It requires sacrifice. She chose to sacrifice herself. To amputate her powers to be with Sebastian McClure. When I realised what she had done, I ran out to try and stop her. I grabbed onto her dress and begged her not to leave. She took my hands in her own, crouched down and told me, “True love demands yielding every part of yourself to the one you love”. She said, one day, I would understand. And then she left.’
A hot tear tracked down Clio’s face. Thomas brushed it away and she caught his hand, holding it against her cheek.
‘I knew she was wrong. I knew it in the very marrow of my bones. And I swore that day, if love meant compromising myself, I would never fall in love.’
‘But you’ve fallen in love with me. And now you must sacrifice any dream you had of children.’ The hope in his eyes glimmered and died. ‘I can’t ask that of you. I won’t.’
Taking his hand in her own, she offered a kiss to his palm.
‘You don’t understand. I didn’t tell you about my mother because I feel like I’m surrendering a part of myself to be with you.
I told you about her because I want something to be very clear between us.
’ Clio took a deep breath, pulling the heat from the room into her core and letting it strengthen her resolve before she exhaled slowly.
‘I can’t change that I am a witch. I won’t give up my powers for you, or for anyone.
If you asked it of me, I would walk away.
I would have to walk away, because it is who I am. ’
He blinked, quirked his head, then shook it as he processed what she said. ‘I would never ask that of you. I love your magic because it is part of you.’
Joy swelled as Clio smiled. ‘And that is why I can give you my heart. That is why we can create a future together. Because you aren’t asking me to change who I am.
And I am not asking you to change either, Thomas.
I love every single part of you. The parts you’re proud to show the world, like your stern frown,’ she traced his lips, ‘and your sharp mind,’ her finger trailed up the side of his face to lightly brush over his forehead.
‘And the parts you would rather keep in the shadows.’ She rested her palm over his heart as her magic sizzled and sparked between them.
‘No one part of you is less or more than the other. They are all important pieces of the man I find endlessly fascinating.’
He placed his hand over hers. ‘You would make a life with me, knowing we could never have children of our own?’
‘I will make a life with you, knowing that we will create a family. No matter what that family looks like or how many people… or ravens… it includes.’
He pulled her into his arms and held her tight against him. Her heart beat in tandem with his, their breaths aligned, and her fire flowed into him until they both glowed with pure light.
‘Will you make love to me, Thomas? Will you claim me as your own and let me claim you as mine?’
‘Always.’
In a move of strength that had her heart fluttering, Thomas swept her into his arms and walked to the bed. He set her down and layer by layer, stripped away her dress, corset, stays, and chemise, all the pieces that had been so carefully assembled, until she stood naked in front of him.
‘I do believe we’ll be late for dinner.’ Clio couldn’t stop her mischievous grin.
‘With the to-do Violet’s arrival caused, I doubt anyone will notice.’ Thomas’ smile was equally full of glorious wickedness.
Turning, she realised he was still in his coat while she stood naked in front of him.
She shivered as her nipples grew hard with need.
‘While I love you in this coat…’ She pushed it off him and started on his buttons.
‘I want you naked.’ She was dexterous with preparing herbs and creating potions, but the intricacies of male fashion seemed to confound her.
Thomas lent a helping hand as they undressed him together.
When Thomas pushed down his smalls, she couldn’t stop herself from staring.
He was just as large as he had been in her vision.
Only now, he was looking at her. Fear glimmered.
She understood the mechanics of what they were about to do.
Aunt Rowan made sure the girls were well educated.
But knowing the recipe for a potion was very different from bubbling it in the cauldron.
‘Touch me.’ His commanding tone helped. She didn’t have to determine what to do. She only needed to follow his instructions.
Putting her flat palm against his ridged stomach, she marvelled at how different they were.
He took her wrist, guiding her hand lower. ‘Touch all of me.’
She paused, and he let her go, giving her the power to explore at her own pace. Slowly, she ran a single finger from the thick root of his erection to the bulging head. His skin was softer than silk, hot and hard.
‘Wrap your hand around me, Clio.’
She did as he asked, fascinated by the weight and heft. ‘This is meant to fit inside me?’ Doubt laced her voice with hesitation.
‘When you are ready.’
She looked at him and bit her lip. Aunt Rowan said there could be pain the first time. Clio wasn’t afraid of pain. She was afraid of losing this moment.
‘Tell me what to do.’