Chapter 35 #2
He bit into the lemon from his water with a pucker. “Did you grow up there with family, or—”
“Ah-ah.” I wagged my finger. “My turn.”
I tucked my hand under my chin, considering where I might start, but as I looked him over it hit me. “How are you … you?”
He laughed. “Well, when a man loves a woman—”
“Yeah, yeah, smartass.” I flicked a water droplet from my cup at him. “In Fiorenza’s journal, she called you by your name. Even mentioned your dreamy eyes—”
His face lit up. “Ah, so you think my eyes are dreamy then?”
“Hey now, I’m asking the question here.”
A sigh slipped past his lips as he sat up straight.
“There isn’t really a simple answer and if I’m being honest, I don’t completely understand it myself.
In a gist, it’s Celine’s doing. She knew after you passed in your first life, you’d need me when you returned.
So, she sealed up my soul somehow; made my body impenetrable to rot or aging. ”
I shuffled in my seat. “Is Celine the reason I’m reincarnated or …”
“Answer for an answer: your words,” he said with a raised eyebrow. “What’s your family like?”
Oof … I shifted in my chair. “It’s … complicated. Honestly, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to use my skip card for this one. It’s a bit of a downer, and I’m having such a good time, I don’t want to ruin it.”
“Skip card accepted; you never have to share more than you’re comfortable with.” He smiled. “And I’m having a great time too. Thank you for coming out with me tonight.”
As I feared I might lose myself in his eyes, the waitress popped back over, arms packed to the brim with plates. I dug in as soon as she stepped away, shoving a heaping forkful in my mouth—the warm syrup on my tongue heavenly—and readied my second question. “Tell me about the bloodstone?”
His brows flinched. Cheek stuffed, he muttered, “What do you want to know?”
“Did you really get it from an ancestor? Deception … his lies were clever. He made sure to drop truths into the lies. He said Fagan—”
He froze. “Wait, you remember Fagan?”
“So that part was true then …”
“Yes.” He swallowed his bite, setting his fork down.
“What I told you was true. The stone was inherited from an ancestor. The beast did steal it from me. But it found its way back to you: to Fiorenza. For some reason, you insisted it’d be safer with me, even after I told you how it’d been lost to me before.
” He sighed. “I came home one night, went to check under the floorboard for it, but it was gone.”
“Wait, a person stole it? Like, in this world?”
He nodded. “The only thing I can think is a witch must have taken it; must have known about its true use. There’s no other explanation. I began digging for answers. Again.”
I crossed and uncrossed my legs. “And?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? Seriously? How can that be?”
“My guess,” he said. “Whoever stole it wants to keep things quiet and spelled the stone’s true use out of every grimoire and text. If someone went to such lengths to hide a Baneful stone …”
My pulse quickened. “It must be powerful.”
He looked me over, shoving another bite in his mouth. “All right, you asked like five questions. My turn. What did you think when you first met me?”
I pushed aside the millions of scenarios regarding the stone, thankful for the change in subject. “Honestly? I felt like … like I knew you. Déjà vu, but way more intense than any I’ve had before.”
“My good looks tend to have that effect.”
I laughed, the realization of how easy it was washing over me.
He made me feel like … like I could be myself—good, bad, or messy without fear of judgment, because he just wanted to be near me, no matter what.
And I … I wanted to be near him too. A lot nearer.
I cleared my throat, pulling my gaze from his lips. “Your humility is astounding.”
“What can I say, some of us are just born charming,” he teased.
“Right,” I said, stabbing my last bite. “I’m guessing with a confidence level like yours, you wouldn’t mind me asking you another question about yourself then?”
“Naturally.” He flared his eyelids. “I’ll allow it.”
“Why don’t I dream on the days I’ve seen you?”
He pursed his lips, a whistle slipping through.
“My, my, she’s quite the detective. Remember the cloaking spell I used to sneak us in after the river situation?
” He mimed a giant rock overhead. “That’s how.
I do my best to conceal you when I notice the Shroud is taking its toll, so you can get some rest.”
I choked on my bite. Suddenly, the dark eyes and days-long disappearances made sense. He’d been protecting me. That was … the kindest, most selfless thing anyone had ever done for me. I opened my mouth, but words evaded me.
“What’s going on inside that head of yours, little shadow?”
“I-I don’t know what to say, aside from … thank you. You … Just, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” The edge of his lips ticked up.
“Look, I know this whole thing is complicated. Messy even. But one thing I have always been able to count on throughout our lives together is your honesty. It’s among my favorite qualities of yours.
So, don’t ever feel like you have to hold back on my account, alright? ”
I grinned and pointed my fork at him. “You’re going to regret that, Lionheart. Mark my words.”
“Doubtful, but feel free to take this as a challenge.” He winked. “Speaking of regrets, we better hurry this up or we’re going to be late.”
“Wait, late for what?”
“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”