Page 77 of The Shadow Wand

“Report to the Valgard Base,” Lukas directs Thierren, and the young Mage instantly regains his military-blank expression. “I’ll check in with you later.”

Thierren nods, then shoots me one last questioning look, turns, and departs, leaving Lukas and me both alone and surrounded by a candlelit swirl of strangers, most of them glaring at me with unconcealed animosity.

I look up into Lukas’s raptor-sharp gaze, a flash of affinity heat igniting between us and sending a shiver through my lines, our magical draw impossible to fully suppress.

“I know of a deserted library,” Lukas says, clearly ignoring our sparking magic.

“Good,” I reply, attempting to ignore his unnerving draw, as well. “Take me there.”

I keep pace with Lukas down a lengthy hallway, his posture stiff, his jaw set tight, as he holds his unsettled magic more firmly at bay. He remains dauntingly silent as he leads me through winding corridors, up staircases, and down more hallways, the sound of music and conversation rapidly fading.

Eventually, we come to an isolated, lantern-lit hallway far away from the crowds, and he guides me into a small, darkened library.

Lukas releases my arm and unsheathes his wand, my affinity lines immediately straining toward it. He turns, walks to a wall lantern, and mutters the candle-lighting spell. The candle inside bursts into a reddened flame.

I watch as he stalks around the room lighting crimson glass lanterns with an air of severe purpose, the rich details of the library gradually coming alive, Lukas’s black cloak swirling behind him.

He cuts a fine figure, I have to admit, tall and broad shouldered, an athletic grace to his movements. My magic continues its relentless pull toward his matching lines, and it makes me uneasy. His magic’s draw is nothing at all like Yvan’s alluring and bolstering fire. Lukas’s magic is like a force I have to push against to stay whole.

Ill at ease, I turn away, my gaze drawn to the marble mantel of the unlit fireplace beside me. It’s glossy black with thin green veins tracing through it, the emerald of the lines so bright that they almost glow, and the surface is so finely polished that it’s nearly as reflective as a mirror. For a moment, I’m overcome by the sheer beauty of the craftsmanship.

“This marble is beautiful,” I comment absently as I trace the green lines, strangely attracted to it.

My face grows warm with surprise as I instantly realize what this is.

It’s not marble. It’swood.

Alfsigr Spruce, from the upper reaches of the northern Borial Forest. Dense as granite. I’ve heard about this wood, read about it, but I’ve never seen or touched it before. As I slide my finger along its gleaming surface, a static-riddled warmth flows up my arm as my earthlines shudder to pulsing, branching life, the image of a deep-green spruce tree with a silvery sheen to its needles unfolding in my mind.

“This is Elfin wood,” I murmur, transfixed by the effect the piece is having on my lines. I turn when there’s no answer from Lukas, my finger still caressing the enthralling wood.

Lukas is watching me from a few steps away, his arms crossed, his expression jaded. “What do you want, Elloren?” His fire gives a brief flare toward me and I can sense the conflicted energy in it.

I hold his confrontational stare, dauntingly aware of our difficult history with each other. I’ve no doubt hurt his reputation. Probably made him the object of more than a small bit of ridicule. It’s likely that everyone in this building knows that I resisted being fasted. Priests gossip, as do lower-ranking guards. And I imagine the Banes told everyone in Valgard about my behavior.

Lukas knew full well that this would be the outcome of permanently Sealing himself to me. But still, he did it to protect me. Even though he likely knows that I’m in love with someone else.

I swallow as my hand falls away from the wood and the larger issues I’m faced with come rushing in. Issues that are bigger than Lukas and Yvan and I.

Can I trust you, Lukas?I agonize as I study his tall form.I need to be able to trust you.

“I...need your help,” I haltingly admit.

“Withwhat?” His tone is sharp and wary.

I struggle to come up with a plausible lie, but the words get tangled in the back of my throat, because we cannot lie to each other. Lukas stares me down, his lip lifting with a trace of amusement that doesn’t reach his eyes, and both frustration and anger flare in me in response to his unreceptive demeanor.

Calm down, Elloren, I chastise myself.You need him.And Chi Nam said he might well be on the Resistance’s side.

“I’m ready to take my place with you,” I force out, the words stilted and stiff. It’s not quite a lie, though. Just the truth artfully picked through. Covering up the larger, explosive, world-altering truth.

Lukas gives a bitter laugh. “Really, Elloren. As my fasted partner? Shall we truly seal our fasting and consummate it this evening?” He looks at me cynically, like he knows the answer.

My angry desperation notches higher. “You once said you were myfriend.” My voice breaks against the word as I step toward him. “Lukas, I need help. And I need to know what side you’re truly on.” I hold my breath, knowing that last question is dangerous.

Lukas looks away and shakes his head as if at war with himself.

Heated frustration mounts in me over his refusal to bend. “Fallon said you two are together.” I’m unable to keep the abhorrence from bleeding into my tone.

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