CHAPTER 24 #3
He shrugged. “What about it?”
“Do you prefer I call you Reagan?” I murmured.
His hands slid to my lower back, pulling me a little closer. He replied easily, “Call me anything you like, as long as it’s with that tone of yours.”
My lips tugged at the corners. I let the name drape with my breath. “Caedmon. Caed. I think I like it.”
A flush crept up my face. Part of me braced for him to laugh. He didn’t. Reagan’s chest rose with a slow, deep inhale.
“I like it when you say it.”
I tried to refocus.
“I was thinking about something I read recently,” I said, lifting my hips just slightly. He gripped my thighs, his fingers digging into the leather.
“There’s a book in the study about mage folk laws. It goes over your sentences, and some of them involve trials.”
I could feel his hand hesitate for only a moment, almost too quick to notice. “That got me wondering. Do you have to complete a trial for yours?”
A slight shift. He hesitated for a second too long. Yet, he responded, his tone as casual as always, “Are you trying to seduce me for information?”
“No,” I replied, feigning indifference.
He chuckled, a knowing smile in his voice. “You need to work on your lying skills, Darling.”
Ugh. I straightened up on his lap. “So answer me. Will you—”
“I can’t answer,” he cut me off, a swallow working down his throat. “I need you not to ask me that.”
I searched his gaze, my mouth itching to ask more, but . . . He must have had a reason. He must not have been able to tell me, which meant there could be a trial.
Before I could respond, he leaned in, pressing our bodies flush together, and placed a kiss on my throat.
“I know it’s hard for you when I say this, but I need you to trust me,” Reagan said against my skin. “You’re so curious. It’s almost fascinating that you’re reading about that. By choice. I can’t imagine anyone doing it unless they worked with a magister.”
He tilted his head to place another kiss on the centre of my throat, hands sliding under the burgundy fabric of my sweater, finding the lace of my bra. Reagan shifted, drawing me further into his lap, where I could feel the undeniable pressure of him.
His teeth skimmed my skin, sending a pulse of heat through me. I couldn’t help but think of his animal form and that there was something wrong with me for enjoying it.
“I have other questions,” I said, but those—those fingers . . .
“That’s too bad,” he murmured, his voice thick. “I liked where this was going.” His hand tugged down my bra, and one finger circled the peak of my breast.
My hips arched in response, and a low sound came from my lips.
That was enough to break any pretence of control.
“Keep your questions for later,” he said.
Reagan stood, lifting me as I wrapped my legs around his waist. I held tight to his shoulders as he made for the door.
“Wait, put me—”
The door to the dining room burst open, and Reagan strode across the foyer, carrying us straight toward the staircase. A few maids glanced up at us, curious, but they turned away. Maybe trying to be polite, maybe uncomfortable with the display.
Heat flooded my neck and cheeks.
We were halfway to my bedroom when Finnegan appeared. “Reagan, we need to—”
“Later,” he replied curtly as we passed the emissary, whose eyes tracked us. Whose smirk showed full understanding of our plans.
Finn couldn’t resist adding, “Have fun.”
“You know, we’d be more subtle if you put me down,” I said.
Reagan shot me a playful glance. “Why should we care about being subtle?”
“I don’t know. Propriety?”
We were about to enter my chamber when Cerridwen found us.
“Reagan, are you ready?” She strode towards him, wearing the black dress with flowing sleeves, the same one she wore for public appearances.
He sighed heavily, resting his forehead on the curve of my neck.
I kept a straight face as I asked his second, “Ready for what?”
“He has a Citizens’ Audience right now. The public is already entering the Hall,” she said, undisturbed by his reluctance.
“You have an audience now?” I repeated, surprised.
He licked his lips and grinned. “What a time you chose to seduce me, Darling.”
“That was poor planning on both your parts,” Cerridwen said, her tone slightly impatient.
“We’ll need to wait,” he said, setting me down. Reagan studied me for a moment. “Care to join me?”
Adjusting the hem of my sweater, I said, “Lead the way.”
I followed alongside them as we made our way to the grand room. Cerridwen handed Reagan a ceremonial robe, the same one I’d seen during my first Citizens’ Audience.
He swung the robe over his shoulders, leaving it open to reveal his slightly wrinkled white shirt and dark slacks.
“There were about three hundred when I left,” Cerridwen said. Citizens, I guessed. “Start with the Rite announcement. Then we’ll move to the pleas.”
Reagan gave a small nod and ran a hand through his hair, trying to tame the mess left by my attempts to get answers from him. His eyes caught mine as I studied him. With a crooked grin, he gave me a wink before adjusting the robe’s clasp.
I pressed my lips together, holding back a smile.
“Reagan, do you have the announcement ready? Can you focus?” Cerridwen pressed, her patience thinning.
He gave her a measured glance, a hand adjusting the edge of his collar. “It’s hard not to be offended by the insinuation.”
“Good. You should be offended. Someone attacked the Aurora Rite, endangered your citizens, and now they want to know what you’re doing about it. Set everything else aside and focus on the task at hand.”
Hers was the kind of authority that brooked no argument.
“I’m well aware,” Reagan replied evenly. “Mountheim comes first. Are you trying to embarrass me in front of Jane?”
“I’m sure you don’t need my help embarrassing yourself in front of her,” she quipped, an almost imperceptible smirk forming on her lips as she halted before the door, stepping aside to let him enter first.
“Hurtful,” was all Reagan said before crossing the threshold.
The audience chamber was just as expansive as I recalled. From my vantage point near the dais, the far end of the room was lost in a sea of movement, citizens steadily pouring in to fill every corner.
Reagan ascended the dais, coming to a halt before the imposing chair at its centre. Cerridwen stationed herself at his far side. I found my spot near Finnegan, who was leaning against a pillar and watching the crowd.
“Someone ruined your fun?” he asked, his grin audible.
“You and Gwinifer have an infuriating habit of omitting important things.”
Finn chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the assembly as Reagan began his address.
“Are you looking for someone?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
He shook his head subtly. “Just keeping an eye out.”
From the far side of the dais, Barracus approached, stopping on the other side of the Mage Lord.