Page 104 of Wilds of Wonder
“The bolt!” Emory gasped. It lay in an iron cage that hung from the ceiling of the tunnel.
My gaze followed the trail of the firelight.
“The lightning bolt is in an iron cage.” Emory pointed to it. “It’ll deflect our magic. El must’ve done this, right?”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
We needed to talk to El.
Chapter Forty-Nine
EMORY
Iwalked out of my room, wearing a new dress—this one floor-length, maroon, and long-sleeved. The bodice molded to my curves, and the sleeves hung across my biceps, leaving my collarbone and shoulders on display. While we’d been foraging in the dungeons, Annalee had been foraging every wardrobe in this castle. She’d found a whole array of dresses and insisted I wear this one. Apparently she was becoming my personal stylist.
We’d been summoned for dinner, but all I wanted to do was trek back down to those dungeons and get the lightning bolt. I’d given up hope that I’d ever find it in this wasteland, and here it was, the key to my freedom. Right underneath this castle.
I took a few deep breaths as I walked to Driscoll’s room and knocked on the door. A muffled sound escaped, and my heart picked up its pace. Driscoll sounded like he might be in trouble. Like he was being attacked. My hand hovered over the doorknob, and I was unsure what to do when a scream split the air.
I couldn’t take any chances. I turned the handle and burst in.
“Are you okay?” I yelled, then abruptly stopped when I saw Aronkneeling behind Driscoll, who was on all fours. On the bed. Naked. Very naked.
“Oh spirits below.” I covered my eyes and wheeled around. “I’m so sorry. I heard sounds, and I thought you were in trouble.”
“Oh, I’m in a lot of trouble,” Driscoll said. “And Aron is making sure I’m adequately punished for my bad behavior.”
The sound of shuffling, trousers being pulled on echoed behind me while I stood there, absolutely mortified.
“I should go,” I said. “Again, so sorry for interrupting?—”
A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, and I peeked open an eye to see a fully clothed Aron standing there.
Driscoll sat on the edge of the bed behind him, also now clothed, smirking at me while Aron just had the same matter-of-fact look on his face that he always had. Absolutely no shame.
“I should go. Dinner will be served shortly, and El doesn’t tolerate tardiness.”
“We have a pretty good excuse for being late,” Driscoll said in a singsong voice.
Aron patted me on the back and left the room, closing the door behind him.
I pressed a hand to my forehead. “I just completely ruined that, didn’t I?”
Driscoll pointed a finger at me. “If that wasn’t our third round, I’d be really really mad right now.” He cocked his head. “I mean, I’m still a little mad, but you thought I was getting attacked so I can forgive you.”
“I did.” I took a tentative step forward.
Driscoll waggled his eyebrows. “Technically, I was getting attacked. By Aron’s penis.”
“Okay.” I held up my hands and sat next to him on the edge of his bed. “I get it. You were having great sex.” I nudged him. “What changed? I thought you were anti-relationships.”
Driscoll tugged at the hem of his forest-green tunic. “Well, someone very wise told me that it was time to start living my life. So I decided to stop worrying about why you and Maverick can’t just figure it out or why El has seven swans waddling around her castle. Or why Annalee keeps looking at El like there’s something she wants to say...” He shookhis head. “Anyway. Decided to stop thinking about all of that and just focus on myself.”
I laughed in disbelief. “Good for you. Aron is good for you, I think.”
Driscoll pinned me with a look. “Calm down. It’s just sex.”
“Mm-hmm. Sure it is.”
