Page 28 of Scales and Seduction

“Where is the diary?” Though I say the words, I know the answer. Kithrall’s diary must be in this castle.

Loran sighs, his gaze steady. “It’s here, and you know it. If your stepbrother were here, where would he have left it?” He pauses, and his eyes fill with concern, his mouth twisting withworry. “Bringing her here tonight was dangerous. It may not end the way you want it.”

I nod, swallowing hard enough my Adam’s apple bobs. “Silas, can you cloak her again before dinner?” I ask before I step into the hallway to greet my guests. Trepidation churns in my stomach as I round my shoulders back, forcing myself to appear regal, confident, and unperturbed by what may come as I step out alone.

“This is absolutely ludicrous.” Silas has paced the entire length of the room at least twice now. The walls are lined with shelves crammed with leather-bound books, and with every pass, I think something will fall on his head. “Did he think Avalon’s family and his mother would just give up on the marriage because he had you here?”

“I don’t know! I didn’t know he would cancel the wedding.” I rub my ring fingernail against my thumb to ground myself. My nerves are fraying—after last night’s attack and learning my cat has been magic my entire life, and now this…my brain has no capacity for more.

“Something feels different between the both of you,” Loran says, twisting his head to the side as he scrutinizes us. “There’s a new energy.”

“They fucked; that’s what it is.” Silas rolls his eyes. “Then that means the app works!”

“Silas, can you be an adult for five seconds?” Loran snarls, his voice taking on an irritated edge. “This must mean, somehow, mated sexual intercourse has the ability to cancel out magic…”

“Well, that’s what Noodles told us last night,” I say, shocked by how easily the words come out of my mouth. I don’t think I’ve gotten used to the fact that my cat can talk yet.

“Your cat?” Silas asks his eyebrow rising in surprise.

I swallow, giving a slow nod as the two of them look far less shocked than I expect them to. It’s almost as if it’s no big deal to them at all.

Loran sighs heavily, his eyes closing as he thinks through the words he says next: “Gideon had you hidden, and for good reason. Why didn’t he contact Silas this morning if he suspected the spell had broken?”

“Well, we did call him and got his voicemail.” My eyes cut over to Silas, whose pacing immediately halts.

“No…I didn’t get a call this morning,” Silas’s voice is cautious, and his brows have knitted together. “I’ve had my phone on, and the only call I received was a brainiac over there telling me we needed to help Gideon search the castle.”

“I was there when he called. It went straight to voicemail.”

Silas lets out a low whistle, leaning against a desk with his arms crossed. “Loran, you have any ideas? I know I didn’t decline the call.”

“Whoever attacked the cabin may have done more than send draugr there for an attack…” Loran pauses a moment, keeping his voice steady. “It was a diversion. The person never intended on hurting you. They wanted you to come out of hiding.”

“Who would want a single human woman to have an entire town after her?” Silas points to Loran, and he’s given a warning glare in response.

“We don’t know that the town will be after you, Ruby. Don’t listen to him, but it is best we keep you hidden until we have more information.”

I sink into the back of the couch, feeling the weight of everything press down on my shoulders. “Great,” I mutter,closing my eyes. “So, there’s an entire plot to get the human out in the open. What do I do?”

Silas smiles, crooking a finger for me to come to him. “I’m going to waste more magic on the prince’s stupid-ass decisions, that’s what. After this, he’s buying six kegs of ale from me as repayment.”

My legs tremble as I walk toward the centaur, knowing what’s coming next. A bright, pretty light will come out of his unicorn horn, and I’ll feel a bit itchy until I’m hidden again. “What happens if I don’t cloak myself and remain human?”

“It’s complicated…” Loran says, though Silas once again interrupts.

“That’s a fucking understatement. If the app chooses people for a reason, and it brought her here, then she’s the catalyst for an entire mess of chaos. What do we do if a whole slew of human pussy comes through the barrier?” Silas bristles, and his feet move, trotting in place for a moment. “Actually…that might not be half bad.”

I roll my eyes as the magic settles over my skin in a warm, tingly sizzle. “I didn’t ask to be here, Silas. If you have ideas on how to send me home, then I’m all ears,” I snap back. My eyes flare open. “I doubt more human women would want to come here if it means hiding.”

Once he finishes, Silas appraises me, roving over my body from the top of my head to my feet until he decides it worked. “All fixed. Now you look and smell completely ambiguous. It’s not nearly as fun.” Silas smirks, though his smile falters a moment. “And lover boy would be broken-hearted if you went home now.” He waves his hand as if dismissing me back to the couch I was sitting on.

My mind goes to Gideon’s confession earlier. I’ve felt pulled in so many directions since coming here that I haven’t thought about how I feel about him, at least not romantically. I’ve beena horny little slut, for the most part, wanting nothing more than to slake my lust for him instead. Hearing him tell me and his best friends that he’s canceling his political marriage and only wants me was a lot to take in. I adore him, truly, but how can I stay?

“If the app chooses people for a reason, and I’m here to be with Gideon, will I be able to ever go home?” My eyes go straight to Loran, knowing he might have more information than Silas. At least it appears he’s the brains of this entire operation.

“It’s…intriguing,” Loran admits, his gaze drifting toward the fire. “The idea of finding someone… a genuine connection… is so tempting.” He sighs as a bittersweet smile teases his lips. “Still, we don’t know how you crossed the barrier, or if you might die returning home.”

Silas snorts, though there’s no malice in his tone. “I’m just as interested, sweetheart. It’s not every day you get a shot at finding someone you can fuck senseless.” Though the words seem callous, the look in his eyes tells me there’s more to it than that. Silas might be a crass Southern jerk, but something tells me it’s all an act. I have to wonder why.

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