Chapter 47 All Lies #2
I swallow hard, wanting to ask her something, but part of me is afraid of what her answer will be. “Elle?”
“Yeah?”
I hesitate, still too caught between what was real and what wasn’t. “Can I ask you something?”
Her hands still in her blonde hair, and she looks at me in the mirror. “Of course.”
I shift under her stare, wishing I'd kept my mouth shut. But I've already started, so…here we are.
“Can you… smell me too?”
The second the words are out, she freezes. Surprise shoots across her face, then it's gone, replaced by that cool mask again. So that's a very obvious yes.
“Smell you?” she repeats, turning toward me. She actually leans in and sniffs—dramatic enough to make me want to hit her—then jerks back, wrinkling her nose.
“Ew.”
Her face twists in disgust before bursting into laughter and I scowl, fully prepared to drown her in this bathtub.
“Relax, I’m just messing with you.” Then, her expression shifts. “But yeah, I can smell you.”
My stomach tightens. How is that possible?
“Why?”
I don’t know how much to say or how much to admit. I know this whole trust thing works best with communication, but I still feel hesitant to share anything.
“It’s just…” My fingers tighten around the towel. “Cam mentioned something about him being able to smell me.”
Her smile vanishes, eyes going wide. Her mouth forms a silent oh, and something unreadable flashes in her gaze.
“Anyone can, really, if they’re paying attention. Or if they know what they’re looking for.” She pauses, watching me closely. “But especially when you use magic.”
The statement knocks the breath from my lungs. I look outside, but there's no storm. “What do you mean?”
I can barely control my abilities on a good day, and half the time, I don’t even know when I’m using them. And now, apparently, I’ve been leaving a fucking breadcrumb trail for anyone with the right nose. Fan-fucking-tastic.
Elle props herself against the sink, arms crossed, and her usual teasing gone.
“Think of it this way.” Her voice softens.
“Your magic's tied to you—your thoughts, your memories, your emotions. Whether you feel something strongly, like anger, fear, love, joy, it seeps out. Whether you mean it to or not. And it leaves a mark. A scent.”
Fantastic. So I'm walking around with a neon sign over my head.
“Can you hide the smell?” If I can hide it, maybe I should master that, just in case I don’t figure out how to control it. Maybe I should have a Plan B.
She hesitates, her smile fading at the edges. That's all it takes to know she's not telling me everything.
“No,” she says finally. “So you should probably learn to control it.”
My stomach tightens and I think I'm going to be sick. I know she's full of shit. But neither of us say anything.
What the hell is she not telling me?
Elle claps her hands together, like she didn’t just completely ignore my question. “Get dressed and come eat with me. I’ll be waiting outside.”
She winks and bounces out the door. Great. Another existential crisis. I didn't even use magic—so how the hell does that work?
The thought loops in my head, tightening its grip on my chest with every repetition. I mean I was horny, so is that how it works? I need to somehow figure out what sets it off. See if I can pull it back when it happens.
That might explain why the attacker said I was being reckless. I was horny that night too. Can you blame me? Kane's the kind of hot that makes you want to spread your legs and forget common sense. Maybe my magic thought that was worth sharing.
How many of those storms were actually storms? Were the flickering lights me too?
The realization settles like a weight in my chest as the lights in the room start to flicker. Is that me too?
I suck in a slow breath, trying to calm down, but my body isn't listening. My pulse only kicks harder, but I need to get a grip. I can't do this right now.
When I finally step out of my room, Elle's leaning in close to Kody, who's laughing at whatever she just said. I didn't realize we were hosting comedy hour, but apparently I missed the invite.
“Night.” She gives him a casual wave before turning on her heel and falling into step beside me.
The dining hall is warm and smells like heaven. My stomach growls in agreement. Cam's at the far end, buried in a book like the world might end if he looks away. He doesn't notice me until I'm practically breathing down his neck.
“Raven, there yo—”
He stops mid-sentence, as his nose twitches.
Oh, for the love of—
I groan internally, already regretting leaving my room. Is this what my life is now? Everyone just sniffing me like some kind of scented candle?
“What is that smell?”
And because the universe loves to make me suffer, Elle starts cackling.
“That’s what I said!” She chimes in, way too pleased with herself. “Trust me, her room isn't winning any awards either.”
She raises both hands while I pin her with a glare. “What? Just saying.”
I swear to all the Gods, I'm going to kill her. I roll my eyes and fold my arms. “Relax. I don’t smell that bad. And if I do, it's probably some twisted magical side effect. Or, you know, the wrong soap. Whatever.”
For a second, I catch something dark in his eyes. Then it's gone, so fast I almost wonder if I'm losing it. Which is a really big possibility right now.
“Well, don't use that soap again.”
His eyes go straight to Elle and I know something unspoken passes between them. I’d bet my life on it.
I lift my shirt and inhale, waiting for some horrific stench. All I get is the lavender haze oil I dumped in the tub. Figures.
Elle chuckles, nudging me lightly with her elbow. “Could be worse, right?”
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Oh yeah, because smelling like an air freshener is all the rage.”
I focus on my food, chewing in silence while my brain spins. Whatever's passing between them, it's staying locked in their heads.
Cam sips his drink, pretending to be absorbed in his book, but I can feel his eyes on me every time he sneaks a glance at Elle. I try to act like I don't see it, but I do.
Finally, he breaks the silence.
“I don’t want to sound like I'm kicking you out—” He sets his glass down. “You’re welcome to come back right after, if you’d like. But if we’re going to get you home without anyone noticing…”
I don't know why, but my stomach twists with that slow, creeping kind of dread. And suddenly, food's the last thing I want.
“I was going to talk to you about it this afternoon, until…”
I set my fork down, leaning back in my chair. I'll just save him the trouble. “Honestly? I was thinking the same thing.” My fingers drum lightly against the table before I look up at him. “Are you coming back, too?”
“Yeah.” A glimmer of amusement flashes across his face as he smiles. “I planned on coming back the night I ran into you, actually.”
It's insane how that already feels like another lifetime. Weeks, and I've lived a whole different life. But he's right. I should go back. Even if it's just to fuck Kane out of my bloodstream.
“When can I come back?” I try to sound casual, but my eagerness seeps through anyway.
“We’ll talk about it on the way.”
I nod, pushing back from the table. “Okay. When do you want to leave?”
“We can leave now if you’re ready.” He sets his book aside, waiting for my reply, looking at Elle.
Anticipation sparks in my chest, colliding with nerves I can't quite shake. I take a deep breath anyway. “Alright. The only thing I brought was my dagger. I'll grab it and we can go.”
The door swings open and Tyler saunters in, all easy swagger and that grin plastered on his face.“What’d I miss?”
Then he stops mid-step, looking between Elle and Cam. “What’s going on?”
“We’re about to head back to Scotland.” I smile.
He stiffens, and I can tell he’s ready to argue, but before he can get a word out, Elle cuts in.
“Sorry we can’t come with you, we’re a little tied up.” She flicks her hand through the air, as if the details are too boring to bother with. “I never liked it over there anyway. Someone's gotta stay and babysit, right?”
Tyler’s jaw ticks, but his smile slides back into place, smoothing over whatever he was about to say. “Guess that means it’s just me and Cam, then. And you, of course, since you’re the star of this little field trip.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips. Cam clears his throat, cutting through the moment.
“Actually,” he says, keeping his voice firm. “You’re needed here, Tyler.”
Tyler’s amusement is gone. The grin stays, but something in his eyes sharpens. Another unspoken conversation. Another fucking secret.
Elle stands abruptly, barreling into me with a warm hug that nearly knocks me off balance. “I’m gonna miss you, but I’ll see you in a few days, I'm sure.”
Before I can get a word out, she backs away, smiling wide enough to tell me she's already plotting something.
“Oh, and I made this for you.”
She holds out a holster with my dagger tucked inside.
I blink, caught completely off guard. “You… wait, when did you—?”
“I swiped it off your nightstand while you were getting dressed.” Elle winks, completely unapologetic. “It straps around your thigh.”
My fingers skim over the smooth leather, tracing the delicate, hand-etched designs. It’s beautiful. And it’s so… thoughtful.
“Elle…” I swallow hard. “This is incredible.”
Her grin widens as she pulls me into another hug. “You’re welcome,” she whispers. “Just keep yourself safe, alright? Remember what I taught you.”
I close my eyes, letting the warmth of her arms sink in before I can overthink it. “Thank you, Elle,” I whisper back, meaning every word. “Really. I’ll be back soon.”
Cam clears his throat. “We need to go.”
I turn to Tyler, waiting for the smartass remark I know is coming. “See you soon?”
He ignores the question, crushing me with his arms in a hug that's too much and too warm. “Obviously.”