Chapter 13 Distrust
Distrust
Luc and Bones hit a final sticking point right as we were about to leave Frumpy’s altogether and call it a night. We were already on our feet, standing by the door to the main corridor, and Bones leaned on the gold dragon head of his cane.
He looked tired, Luc looked tired.
I felt tired.
Even so, I could barely stand still with Bones pressed even closer to me than he had been when we’d sat next to one another on the couch.
Only the three of us remained.
Alaric begged off to return to his dormitory and sleep, maybe a half-hour earlier. He took Wraith with him, and I didn’t fight him on it. I figured he probably needed Wraith more than I did right then.
Nyx had gone with him, saying she’d also had a late night.
“No,” Bones said, his voice uncompromising. He gave the cane a light but sharp tap on the stone floor. “We already had this conversation, Mocking. Leda’s coming with me. I thought I made that clear.”
Luc’s jaw immediately clenched. “And I thought I made it clear. I need Leda on research here at the school. I was hoping she could tackle the Andhakarah,” he added, referring to the restricted access archives under the main library.
“If you want to bring her home for Yule for a day or two, fine. But I want you and Alaric on family vaults, archives, and mansions.”
“That’s fine,” Bones said, his jaw still taut. “I’m happy to do that, if you want. But Leda is coming with me.”
I watched Luc nearly in fascination as fury turned his pale skin red.
I’d never seen him angry like that before. I honestly hadn’t known it was possible before that day, but apparently all his anger needed was Bones to bring it out of him.
“We have libraries at the Black Tower,” Bones said, before Luc could get past his fury well enough to speak.
“Big libraries,” Bones added. “More than one. The largest of those is far more extensive and filled with rare books than anything on campus, even the Andhakarah. We’d do better to check those and leave the school locations for when the term starts again.
It’s not like the Andhakarah gets “full,” given its restricted status. ”
Bones’s voice remained cold. “There are a few locations we could check in London, too, if you think it will help. I don’t mean bookstores. I mean private collections with restricted access that most Magicals don’t even know about.”
Luc opened his mouth, but Bones’s voice dropped to a near-growl.
“I’m not negotiating, Mocking, so there’s no point in arguing with me on this.
Leda’s not going anywhere without me, not even disguised.
” I thought about the bonfire party, and he turned his glare on me.
“I was with you then,” he reminded me coldly.
“Anyway, it won’t just be drunk university students coming after you outside these walls, Leda.
It’ll be wizards and witches with decades of combat experience. You got in a lucky shot with Malefic––”
I scoffed angrily, but he didn’t let me get any further.
“––None of them will make that mistake again, Leda,” he cut in.
“None of them. So either you leave Malcroix with me, or you stay here, in my tower, under twenty-four-seven guard assigned by me, Blackstone, and Forsooth, and I bring books to you. Your choice. And frankly, if Blackstone or Forsooth aren’t on board with that, I’m not giving you that choice.
You’ll come with me to the Black Tower and read, because I’m not leaving you here alone for days without protection. Not even locked in my tower.”
Before I could answer, Luc spoke up.
“Honestly, that’s not a terrible idea,” he began cautiously, looking at Bones with a different expression in his eyes, right before he looked at me.
“There’ll be more reading than we can possibly get done over the break, anyway, Leda.
And if Bones is right, and you’re really in that much danger, maybe you should stay on campus––”
“I’m going with Bones,” I said, and now I was bloody annoyed, with both of them.
When Luc opened his mouth, I cut him off.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “You’ve seen Bones fight. And I really don’t need two hyper-protective mages telling me what I can and can’t do.” I pointed with my thumb at Bones, without looking away from Luc. “He’s insufferable enough, as it is.”
Bones made a kind of offended, huffing sound at my words, but I could feel something in him relax when he heard me say I’d go with him.
It’s about fucking time, he growled in my mind. Why are you fighting me on this?
I might have answered sooner if I’d ever once heard a question, I shot back. Are you incapable of asking, Bones? Or only of giving orders?
He fell silent at that, but I barely noticed. My mind was already turning over the reality of spending a few days at the Bones estate. I couldn’t think about his mother yet, so I focused on what it would mean for me to even get there.
Forsooth wouldn’t like it. Neither would my cousin.
Forsooth and Valor would probably agree with Luc that I shouldn’t leave campus at all.
Those were discussions I would unfortunately need to have, too, since we’d need Forsooth’s mirror for transport to Exmoor, and we’d likely need to inform the Praecuri if we were planning on going to Malefic Bones’s house, given I wasn’t sure whether they’d even cleared it following Malefic’s arrest.
But the prospect of sitting alone at Malcroix, under guard and waiting for the rest of them to return from their various raids for the entirety of winter break, made my teeth grind.
While sifting through dusty old records in castles and crypts owned by corrupt royals wasn’t my idea of a vacation, either, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t interest me.
I wanted to go with Bones.
Frankly, I didn’t want him going anywhere alone, either. I didn’t have a concrete, logical, evidence-based reason for that, but the feeling was strong. I worried slightly less about Alaric, partly because I knew he wouldn’t venture out alone, not if he could absolutely help it.
Bones would. He absolutely would, if I didn’t insist on going with him.
Probably, Bones murmured in my mind.
I glanced over my shoulder, and saw a ripple of green-gold fire in Bones’s irises. I’d been seeing hints of it all day, but this was the brightest I’d seen it yet. It shone there prominently enough I worried Luc might notice.
You’re probably right about that, too, Bones thought agreeably. I’m not sure I’m safe to be in public right now, Shadow. His voice dropped lower, and softer. Maybe you’d better come with me back to the tower and help me take care of it.
I shivered without meaning to, and felt him flinch.
His hand touched my back, seemingly unconsciously, but he pulled it away an instant later. Despite its brevity, the contact was enough for me to get a rush of liquid heat off his fingers, intense enough that my skin flushed hotter, and seemingly all over.
When I glanced up, Luc had clearly caught the exchange, and looked annoyed all over again.
“Right,” he said, a touch coldly. “Timeline?”
“Tomorrow,” Bones said promptly. “We should do a first run at the Black Tower crypts this week. Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.”
“If I can get ahold of Valor in time,” I added. “And if we can convince Forsooth to let us use his mirror. I suspect they’ll want some discussion on logistics.”
After a bare pause, Bones nodded in reluctant agreement.
“I’ll wait on contacting my mother until we’ve heard back from one or both of them,” he said diplomatically.
Luc looked somewhat placated, but I could still feel a tense wariness on him when it came to me and Bones doing anything on our own. Really, I could feel a tense wariness on him around me and Bones being friendly with one another at all.
I honestly wasn’t sure why Luc was so convinced I was the only one of our team in danger.
Was it really Bones that worried him? Because Luc knew full well that I’d been studying Offensive and Defensive magic with Bones for months.
If ever there was a situation where Bones could have hurt me if he wanted, it was in his practice space while we lobbed dangerous spells at one another.
If Luc’s nerves had to do with me being “the hybrid” or even “the hybrid who cut off Malefic’s arm,” it was insane to think we wouldn’t all be labeled enemies of Dark Cathedral soon.
Bones already said they were attacking royals who refused to join up with them.
That would include Luc’s parents, wouldn’t it?
It would also include Luc himself.
Not to mention, if any one of us got caught nicking royal auric scans, conducting investigations into Dark Cathedral’s blood magic, copying rituals from carefully-guarded texts, we’d all be on Dark Cathedral’s hit list.
“You’re not coming back to Valarian with me, Leda?” Luc asked.
Luc seemed unwilling to leave Bones and me alone.
“No. Not right now.” I flushed and felt annoyed with myself for it. I shouldn’t have to explain myself. “I’ll send you a message when I hear back from Valor and Forsooth. Bones and I need to talk about a few things––”
Luc cut me off, ignoring the last thing I’d said totally.
“Don’t go to the Bones estate without talking to me first,” he said, speaking only to me.
“I won’t.”
Bones took hold of my arm, and I could practically feel his impatience, not to mention a tangible flavor of possessiveness.
Luc continued to linger by the door, half-blocking our way.
Impulsively, I stepped forward and gave my friend a hug.
Bones released my arm when I did.
“I’m glad we’ll be helping you with this,” I told Luc when he squeezed me back. “Don’t worry, okay? I’m not going to do anything crazy.”
Luc let out a low grunt and released me. He glanced at Bones as he stepped back, but didn’t voice the thought aloud.
He obviously thought I already was doing something crazy.
He still hadn’t moved out of the doorway.
“It’s only a few old manors,” I reminded him.
“I’m not going to be roaming the streets, or attending Dark Cathedral meetings.
If Forsooth lets us use his mirror, I won’t even need to go through Bonescastle.
And I’ll spend the vast majority of my time at Bones’s estate, which is likely covered in Praecuri chimaeras by now, not to mention under observation by five different types of Magical law enforcement. His mother isn’t going to attack me.”
Luc’s skepticism didn’t fade as he studied my eyes, all but ignoring Bones.
“I’m not entirely sure I am,” he admitted. “Glad I dragged you into this, I mean. I know you think you’re with someone you can trust…” Luc trailed, as if changing his mind about what he’d been about to say. He glanced at Bones only then.
“You and I need to have a talk,” he said, voice hard.
“Do we?” Bones asked with a faint sneer.
“Yes,” Luc said, his blue eyes cold. “We absolutely fucking do. Before you take Leda anywhere, especially to your crypt of a family home.”
“I don’t see how it’s any of your business, Mocking.”
“Every part of this is my business. She’s my friend. Not to mention, it’s my project.”
“She’s a grown witch,” Bones said flatly. “Why don’t you ask her?”
I’d been wondering that myself, honestly.
“And I don’t give a fuck if it’s your project,” Bones added. “I don’t work for you.”
“You do, actually,” Luc retorted. “One word from me, and not only will you be off this project, but Blackstone has granted me permission to ensure you won’t remember a single thing that was ever said about it.
Every part of my research will be plucked out of your mind, Caelum. And Alaric’s too, if necessary.”
I felt Bones stiffen, and laid my hand on his arm.
“Oh, and incidentally,” Luc went on angrily. “I do intend to talk to her about it. But that part’s none of your business, either, and is totally separate from the fact that it’s my job to ensure the safety of every member of my team.”
I felt Bones’s magic grow hotter.
Without thinking, I merged some of my magic with his.
I did it instinctively, like I’d done at other times to calm him down, but I honestly don’t know if it calmed him that time or ratcheted that intensity up in him even further.
It definitely managed to distract him from Luc. I felt heat flare off him where I touched his arm, and then he was gripping my bicep in his fingers. All of his magic seemed wrapped around me then, hot and enveloping like wings, pulsing against my skin.
He looked at me, and his eyes glowed brightly enough to catch my breath.
I could tangibly feel him fighting to control his magic.
“Right,” Luc muttered, after that overly-long pause. I felt him back down with an effort, even as he made his tone forcibly light. “Just let me know, Leda.”
“I will,” I said. “Promise.”
Luc didn’t answer, but I saw the frustration and worry in his eyes as he looked between us. He’d clearly felt something about my intervention in Bones’s magic, and whatever it was he felt, he either didn’t like it, didn’t understand it, or both.
I remembered Luc warning me a few months earlier not to get too close to Bones. He’d told me about his experience of Bones when they were young, and warned me that the problems in Bones’s personality, his past, and his family were deeper than I knew.
I hadn’t really thought about how much I’d ignored that advice.
I didn’t want Luc to worry, but I had no idea how to reassure him, either.