Chapter Five
Blair
Blair Carson’s release barreled through her, and she cried out to the ceiling above.
Her lover’s talented thumb kept drawing rapid circles over her aching nub, and she rocked her hips once, twice, and a final third time as he stilled beneath, his manhood twitching deep inside her as he, too, found release.
His other hand gripped her ass tighter, nails digging into her sensitive aroused flesh—and shit—another climax crashed down on Blair, and she shot forward, hunching over as her body lost all sense.
With toes curled, panting, and sweet somnolent running through her sedated being, Blair peeled herself off her partner’s hips and crashed to the rumbled bedsheets. The two lay side by side, arms barely touching, as they caught their breath.
“Stay for breakfast.”
Blair laughed, stomach churning. She peeled herself from the sheets and rushed from the outstretched hand, tempting her with promise. “I’ve never stayed before, Jace.”
Not in any of her few lover’s beds after their entanglements. No matter the late hour, she always created a danu home, more than eager to climb under her own quilt with the slick sweat of sex still clinging to her skin. Blair knew better than to deviate from her rules and strict ways.
Underneath tousled blond curls, Jace’s blue eyes shined with an eagerness she’d never seen before.
Jace was a good fuck—okay, an excellent fuck and Blair’s favorite—and not only for his wicked thumb or attentive tongue, but also because he wanted nothing more.
Not a glass of wine before. Not dinner. Nor to even lie in bed together after.
They’d been entangled for years, learning the art of release and flesh and sounds without frills and feelings.
He placed a hand behind his head, flexing his strong biceps. “Why not change it up a bit?”
Blair snorted, searching for her trail of shucked clothes littered around his room.
She’d arrived ready and wanting, and Jace hadn’t said a word, not even a good morning before his fingers had plunged into her slick core.
Ah, she found her bralette on his work table—they’d started there with Blair bent over, his hands threaded through her curls, as he gave her such a delicious, vigorous pace after such long, tiring weeks.
“Since when have you wanted change?” Blair tugged on her undergarments, raising a brow.
Though both second borns and scholars, they had different areas of study and rarely crossed professional paths. Jace’s research pertained to ancient and magical artifacts, spending most of his time at Nūa’s museum, the Ealaíona, as well as his coven’s shop that sold high-end collectables.
Blair found her sweater hanging from a copper sundial that buzzed with magic, one of the few artifacts Jace had kept for himself.
“I thought perhaps we could discuss what had you so tightly wound earlier.” Jace rested his arms on his bent knees. His naked body gleamed with their earlier endeavors, fluttering Blair’s insides. Screw breakfast—she was half-tempted to crawl into bed and have him again.
But laying twice in the same day with Jace was dangerous territory. It lead to sharing meals, which turned into conversation, and then feelings, and they was strictly off the table for Blair.
“Work is stressful.”
Jace raised a brow. That was a lie. Well, a partial lie.
She was working on deciphering the prophecy Evelyn and Kade had discovered, but in terms of her scholarly post at the Nūa Library, well, she’d been sacked months ago for encouraging the Son of the God to leave his position at the Void and search for the Daughter of the Goddess, disobeying direct orders from the Council.
And since Sorin was na?ve to the fact that prophesied third borns had never married, she could not explain her dismissal from the city’s most prestigious scholarly position during job interviews.
Sourness coated Blair’s tongue. With that truth now revealed, the Carson coven faced shame and disgrace at all angles from the city.
Blair’s scholarly status should’ve been the last thing on her mind, but it was all Blair had—her research, published journals and anthologies series, and an office in the library with the best view of the city.
Yet, Evelyn’s hearing loomed. She’d not told Evelyn she’d lost her position.
Dread weighed like the force of a summer storm pressed into Blair’s chest. But if she figured out this prophecy, learned it before any other scholar, there’s no reason the Council wouldn’t reinstate her.
Books and research gave Blair’s life order, and she needed that stability back in her life.
Blair finally found her green velvet trousers. She searched its back pocket and found a folded piece of paper tucked inside. She sauntered over to the bed, crawled towards Jace and saddled his hips.
“Have you ever seen something like this before?”
She’d sketched the bloodstone necklace onto the parchment. Not a single text detailed the type of stone Evelyn had placed her magic into, and perhaps with Jace’s expertise, he’d recognize it.
“I suddenly feel used,” he said with a frown.
Blair rolled her eyes. “I came here for the delectable sex. This is just a bonus.”
Jace raised a suspicious brow but studied her rendering, regardless. “What color is it?”
“Deep red.”
“Hmm. Magic?”
Blair couldn’t speak to its magical qualities prior to Evelyn placing her magic into it, but a certain phrase her sister had used stood out. “I think so. I read it’s the blood of fallen gods.”
Something flashed in Jace’s eyes, and he folded the paper back up. “Blair Carson, are you interested in dark magic?”
She snatched the sketch from his hand, hiding her wince at Jace’s taunt. “What if I was?”
“I’d say you’re lying, but you don’t do that either.”
Blair exhaled her impatience. “Are you familiar with it or not?”
“I’ve read about something similar. A god’s soul is so grand, it imbeds in the earth as gems after they die. But that’s if gods even can die.”
Soul. The word nagged in the back of Blair’s reeling mind, and she bookmarked it to think about later.
“Which text is this?” she asked.
“One hailing from Torren.”
Interesting. “Written by the humans?”
Jace cocked his head and smirked. “Ancient fae.”
That had to be some ancient text. Blair brimmed with excitement—nothing beat a good book except a rare, ancient one. Bonus if she had to transcribe a forgotten language. Her fingers twitched to get her hands on it.
“Did the text call it anything?” she asked.
Jace shrugged. “It was translated, but I recall the term blood. That’s why I asked for the color. It gleamed a deep crimson.”
More questions sat on the tip of Blair’s tongue, but a small brass clock chimed the half hour. Bloody hel. Blair sprang from the bed, yanking her trousers on.
Jace turned on his side, watching her with sleepy eyes. “I heard rumors your sister, the Daughter of the Goddess, had finally returned and has a hearing today with the Council.”
Blair scoffed. She had no intention of attending the hearing, not that she was permitted, technically.
An oily sensation snaked through Blair at the mention of Evelyn, and the feeling awakened a wickedness in her she tried desperately to hide.
She’d kept her distance, afraid she’d say the angry words that surged through her like storm winds barreling against the city.
How dare Evelyn just waltz into the city as if she’d never ran? As if she hadn’t lied to their homeland. Lied to Blair, her own sister. And Mirella—now so kind and welcoming. As if the last two years hadn’t happened and they hadn’t dealt with Evelyn’s mess.
The Elders had worried over Evelyn like a misplaced weapon, and yet Evelyn was Blair’s sister. Out of love, Blair had taken matters into her own hands and sought Kade out. Thank the Goddess, he’d found her sister, but what did Blair’s efforts have to show for it?
Nothing. No job. No status amongst witches. No love. Nothing like Evelyn had. Nothing true and real.
“Bleedin’ suns, Blair. Try to at least look happy that your sister is home.” Jace handed over her cloak.
Black velvet brushed against Blair’s fingers, and she grasped the cloth for comfort. Of course, her heart swelled at the sight of Evelyn home—worry had riddled Blair for so long—but her sister had returned . . . different.
In love.
It was nauseating. Every small kiss, every glint of Kade’s lingering gaze.
It was like an invisible dagger twisting into Blair’s belly, reminding her of what she didn’t have.
She couldn’t blame either of them. That was unfair.
They didn’t know she walked around with a scarred heart, a wound that never truly healed.
Nevertheless, Blair’s resentment was a wretched beast, and she didn’t have the reins to tame it, not when she had worries of her own.
“Is there any chance you have that fae text?” Blair asked.
Jace nodded. “You’re welcome to come by my coven’s shop and take a look at it.”
“Thank you.”
Her lover sighed, running his hands through his blond curls. “You know . . . Making an appearance at the hearing might work in your favor. The Daughter of the Goddess has returned and there’s a so-called ‘entire prophecy’ to research. Why not grasp that opportunity?”
Blair had already started the very endeavor, but in the comfort of her townhome and no official post, there was no status or recognition that came with it. Yet could she sit through Evelyn’s hearing and stomach her excuses?
Come to think of it, Blair could sit through anything to get back to her official office, texts, scholarly research, and quiet life.
She sighed. “Perhaps you’re right, Jace.”
Blair conjured her danu. Her magic sang a haunting song and furled her curls. As she stepped through and into her townhome, she prayed the hearing went well, but for entirely selfish reasons.