Page 29 of Blood on the Ice

My eyes go wide asthatmovie plays in my head and I slap my hand over my mouth.

“At least you’re not denying that you might be a smidge interested in the arrogant wand waver. That makes it easy. As long as I get to be with you and we’re bonded, I’m surprisingly okay with whatever you need.” His brow furrows and he shakes his head with a laugh. “I’ve never felt like this in my entire life. It’s so fucking weird.”

You’re telling me, buddy.

“Maybe we should take a beat and think about this? You’re sick and who knows? You might even be delirious,” I say carefully. I prefer not to form attachments that can be abruptly taken away, like Magnus. Both gargoyles and dragons live in communities similar to what Lucas described, but Magnus dangled the carrot until he had me locked down—then he tore it away with fury.

“Naw. If they fix me tonight, I’ll even show you,” the blond says as the corner of his lips quirk up. “Scout’s honor.”

I have no idea what he means, but since I don’t think this is going to be solved by this evening, I just nod. “Okay. For now, let’s prioritize water and the threat to your safety.”

He pouts, making me groan internally. I wait and he finally nods. “Fine. I’ll sit here and be good while you change into something less formal than an Armani if we can sit together.”

When did this become a negotiation?

“Sweet baby Hermes, Lucas. You’re a spoiled brat.”

“That’s true, but I’m a cuddly, adorable one.” Winking, he waves his hands at me. “Scoot. Go change, and I promise to be an obedient patient from now on.”

It won’t do any good to argue with him; that much is clear. Besides, I don’t want to wrinkle up my suit sitting around the house just to spite him. So I nod and rise to my feet before I say, “Behave and I’ll be back in a moment.”

Leaving the prone polar bear in my living room, I stride through the hall to the stairs. When I get to my room, I kick off my heels and pad to the closet. I grab a comfortable shirt and lounge pants, then take off my work clothes. I’m not going back to the office and I’ll need to make sure Channing brings my stuff from there when she joins us tonight. After I dress, I text her quickly and walk back into the room.

I didn’t get the chance to use all the lovely things Lucas had delivered yesterday, but I’d like to set it up when I have time to pack up the rest of Magnus’ bullshit simultaneously. It’ll need to wait a few more days. I surely don’t have time now and though I’d love to sleep in a proper bed, I don’t want the taint of my ex touching what’s going on now.

I have an actual mate—one who wants me however he can get me.

The entire situation is almost laughable—that’s how far-fetched it feels. I’d committed to Magnus because I loved him and thought he loved me, but I knew we weren’t mates. Frankly, I figured I didn’t have any because I’ve lived such a long time without once feeling the slightest twinge that would make me think one existed.

Reaching up to smooth a hand over my hair reflexively, I realize Des has receded and the others are staying quiet.Did accepting Lucas do that?I have no idea, and I definitely don’t have anyone to ask. Gorgons are rare and secretive, as Iggy mentioned. There aren’t a lot of records of the true shifters, only human myths.

Who can I ask to find one who might know more about that side of me and mating?

It comes to me in a burst of brilliance: playboy lawyer to the rich, Jackson Thorne.

Getting him to answer me is the trick.

finesse

Iggy’s been in a snit since he came home.

He canceled his afternoon lectures to work on the scrying keys he found in Shadwell’s office, but he’s had a devil of a time getting his efforts to produce leads. Being an overachiever and a Type A personality with a healthy ego, he can’t admit defeat—ever. His hair is a mess from raking his hands throughit, and there are books on every surface of our living room. I’d offer to help, but I haven’t been able to get more than growls out of him since he showed up with a floating box of supplies and a wild story earlier.

Ignatius Briarton is stubborn as a lame mule and ten times as likely to kick out your teeth when frustrated.

As long as I’ve known him, my roommate has boasted his prowess in magic and his rise to the head of the department at State U proved he wasn’t simply bragging. But he rarely encounters a puzzle he can’t solve and his inability to narrow the focus of a simple scrying spell beyond a particular building is making him lose it.

“Iggy, I’m sure they will understand if you can’t resolve this before tonight. Zuzanne said she’d have something with her to counteract some of the chemical effects. That should buy us some time,” I cajole him as I walk up and rub his shoulders gently.

Throwing my hands off, he looks up with a countenance more concerned than I’ve seen in a long time. “If I can’t triumph over a basic spell to help Morgana’s pet hockey player, how will I convince her to fund the department so I can elevate its program? She’ll be angry and it will only hurt the current and future students, not me. They set my position for life through the endowment, so she can’t ax me. However, she can make me irrelevant when I have no new, promising students enrolling because we can’t keep up.”

I give him a pointed glare. “Also, the bear might die, and that seems like a bad outcome.”

“Yes, yes. The idiot sportsman might die, which I normally would shrug at, but given his lineage…”

The smirk that crawls over my face is unstoppable. “Given his lineage, you’d also have some serious ‘splainin’ to do, and the woman listening is known foreatingher rivals.”

Shuddering, he nods. “Yes. Fräu Wolfenberg isn’t thelastperson I’d want to piss off, but she’s up there. Being a Kodiak bear whose departed husband was an alpha she fought, killed, and consumed in a sanctioned clan battle makes her fearsome. Her personal net worth being higher than most undeveloped countries gives her power. But her ruthlessness in wielding her seat on the Society’s highest Council? That gives her absolute immunity from normal laws.”

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