Page 50 of Magic in My Bones

Dorian wet a washcloth with warm water and turned to me, gently taking my hand in his. With infinite care, he wiped away the evidence of our release, his touch as tender as if he were handling blown glass.

When he was done, he brought my hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to each palm before he brought me back to the sofa.

I swallowed, my heart doing a funny little flip in my chest. “Thank you,” I whispered, the words feeling wholly inadequate.

I finished righting my clothing, feeling a bit dazed in the most satisfying way. The room felt warmer, softer somehow, and I glanced at Dorian, who was tidying up with his usual unhurried elegance.

“It’s getting late,” I murmured, though part of me didn’t want to leave, reluctant to let this warmth slip away.

Dorian’s expression softened, and he reached out, curling his hand around mine. “You don’t have to go anywhere, Ren. Stay as long as you like.” His thumb traced gentle circles over my knuckles. “There’s no rush, and no classes until after the break.”

I felt my heart settle, any lingering nerves easing as I sank back down onto the couch beside him. Bones padded over, looking quite pleased to find a warm spot on the other side of Dorian, while Grim crawled up my arm to perch on my shoulder, his tiny claws a comforting weight.

“Stay here with me, just like this,” Dorian murmured, brushing a kiss against my temple. “We can just be.”

The promise of a quiet night, free of expectations felt like a gift. I rested my head against Dorian’s shoulder, and he pulled a soft throw blanket around us, tucking it in so that we were cocooned together, our familiars nestled close.

Dorian reached over, pouring us each a cup of tea from the small pot he’d kept warm on the side table. I took a sip, letting the warmth seep through me as we relaxed into the quiet. For once, my mind wasn’t racing or doubting. Here, in this moment, everything felt… right.

The cottage seemed to agree, wrapping us in layers of protective magic. Even the ancient protection wards that lined the walls pulsed with a gentle light, as if blessing this moment,this connection between us. It felt like being held in the heart of something ancient and beautiful, something that transcended the usual boundaries between life and death magic.

18

A Quiet Morning

Dorian

I let out asoft groan as the first tendrils of wakefulness tugged me from sleep. The unfamiliar firmness beneath my back sent a momentary jolt of confusion through my sleep-addled mind. This was certainly not the plush comfort of my bed. The surface was far too unyielding, the angle of my neck too awkward. It was then that I registered the warm weight pressed against my side, the gentle rhythm of breaths tickling the sensitive skin of my neck.

My eyes fluttered open, blinking away the remnants of drowsiness. Ren was nestled snugly in the crook of my arm, his body molded perfectly to the contours of my own. Tousled locks of raven hair spilled across his brow, contrasting starkly with the paleness of his skin. In the soft glow of the fading embers, he appeared almost ethereal, a vision of unearthly beauty that stole the very breath from my lungs.

A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. I’d extended the invitation for him to stay as long as he liked the night before. Yet this was unexpected, though not at all unwelcome.

Memories of the previous night drifted back, warming my face and heart. Even now, our magic lingered in the air as silver threads of necromantic power weaving through the cottage's usual protections. The dried herbs overhead had bloomed overnight despite being long dead, responding to our combined energy. Gran always said magic remembered love, and now I understood exactly what she meant.

The way he had trembled beneath my touch, his skin flushed and heated as he guided my hands to the most intimate parts of him. The breathy sighs that escaped his parted lips as I explored his body with reverent fingers. It was a gift, a precious offering of trust and vulnerability that I cherished more than any arcane treasure.

The protection runes I'd carved into the cottage's foundations years ago had shifted overnight, adapting to include Ren in their embrace. Ancient spells recognized ancient truths. Some souls were meant to find each other across time and circumstance.

My heart swelled with an emotion that transcended mere physical desire. Of course, I couldn't deny the familiar stirring of want that coiled low in my belly as I drank in the sight of him. The delicate curve of his neck, the sharp lines of his collarbones peeking out from beneath his rumpled shirt. But it was more than that. It was the brilliant mind, the wry humor that caught me off guard in the most delightful ways. It was the strength of his convictions, the unwavering determination to forge his own path in a world that so often tried to define him.

Ren shifted slightly, a small furrow appearing between his brows as he burrowed deeper into my embrace. A fierce surge of protectiveness washed over me, mingling with the tender affection that had grown with each passing day. The road ahead of us would be fraught with challenges, but I was more resolved than ever to help Ren remove the mark from his forehead, and to see him succeed, both at Blackstone and abroad.

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, I leaned in, brushing my lips against his brow in a featherlight caress. Ren stirred, a small sigh escaping his parted lips as he nestled closer, seeking the warmth of my embrace. I trailed a path of gentle kisses along the slope of his nose, the curve of his cheek, until at last, I captured his lips in a slow, languid kiss.

Ren's eyes fluttered open, still hazy with the remnants of sleep. A slow, lazy smile curved his lips as he met my gaze, his dark eyes sparkling with a mix of affection and desire. “Good morning,” he murmured, his voice rough with disuse, yet impossibly alluring.

“Indeed it is, mo grá,” I replied, my accent thickening with sleep and contentment. “Though Gran always said mornings were magic's favorite time for blessings, and waking up beside you feels like the sweetest blessing of all.”

A soft laugh bubbled from Ren's throat, a sound that warmed me to my very core. “You’re such a shameless flirt.” He reached up, slender fingers threading through my hair as he pulled me down for another kiss, this one more heated than the last.

Our magic surged between us, as eager to reconnect as our bodies. Silver threads of power wove around us as I deepened the kiss, drawing a soft moan from Ren's lips. The mark on his forehead warmed where it pressed against my skin, no longer feeling like a dark brand but something transforming into our own magic.

“Dorian,” he breathed against my mouth, his fingers tightening in my hair. “I want... can we...?” His hips rolled against mine, making his intentions clear. The sweet, needy sound he made shot straight through me, awakening every nerve ending.

“Are you sure, love?” I murmured, even as my hands slid under his shirt, tracing the warm skin of his back. “You're not too sore?”

He shook his head and captured my mouth in another searing kiss.

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