Page 36 of A Conduit of Light
Smiling, humming, she placed her attention back on her work.BaronHeimlenhad tasked her withFelgrenorigin study.FiguerahandClairanniahad already looked through these books, but were quickly ushered to move on to other histories of the isle.
Furrowingher brow, she turned her head to the side to read each spine in order, tucking the chestnut strands of wayward bits of hair back into the plait that wound just at the top of her head, the rest of it spilling out among her shoulders.Sheabsentmindedly unbuttoned the top of her cream linen shirt—just to a hint of her breasts, her body radiating a familiar heat since the night before.She’dskipped the traditional channeler vest this morning, opting for comfort over style.
She’dbeen reading all morning, and she struggled to keep her mind on the task given to her.Concentrationwas not her strong suit today with her thoughts reeling over her night withRev.Shehad no opportunity yet to process them, and things were moving so quickly, she felt she was tumbling down a hole, unable to grab the sides and stop herself from falling.
Shefelt so young, pining after the heir ofFelgren.Hewas the most obviously handsome man here, who not only was to take the reins ofBaron, but had discovered her existence and apparent talent in conduit magic.Which, according toBaronHeimlen, was essential for savingFelgrenand the entire isle.
Whatwas shedoing?
Shelet her mind race as she traced the depressed imprint of each title.Therewas no concentrating on her task until she had faced her thoughts and let the stream of them out of her consciousness, like a floodgate no longer able to restrain what rumbled behind it.
Herinner monologue wouldnotbe subdued.
Revichwas aBaron.Shestarted with that.Almostrevoltingly charming, a smile that might as well be a plague considering how it seemed to spread to whomever witnessed it.Wellbuilt, but not obnoxiously so, he had obviously worked hard in physical labor during his adolescent years.
Andhis eyes.Shegroaned aloud and rubbed the space between her own.Hiseyes constantly reminded her of home.Thedeep blues of the unabating sea she had walked countless times—just miles from the towers ofHyrithia.
Itwas strange to see—BaronHeimlen’seyes were typically fully black except for the outer white.Noiris could be distinguished most of the time, but she swore she had seen lighter hints of gray on occasion, and she wondered then if allBarons’ eyes could change color.
Sheknew, of course, thatBaronshad almost fully black eyes, but she was not expectingRev’s.Theywere most often the deep hue of a dusk sky on the brink of utter darkness.Hisbrows rested black and straight across his forehead and the length of his nose was just right, before giving way to a full set of lips that always curved up slightly in a never-ending smirk.
Ashshook her head in disbelief.Theamount of detail she had somewhere hoarded in the recesses of her mind was absurd.Butshe wasn’t done yet as she recalled the waves of his black hair, set at his shoulders, just long enough to pull back into a colorful ribbon.Shethought of how she had run her fingers through it the night before and her lower belly ached in a demand she knew well enough.
Mostconfusing was his interest in her.Shehad been rude.Shehad been short, unwilling to give way to a friendship or a relationship of any sort for most of her time here.Yethe desired her?Why?
Shemostly understood her attraction to him, yes, but what did he see in her?Sheknew she was pretty.Shehad been told so on enough occasions to ascertain that her strong physique and bright green eyes were desirable.
Butagain, she had been unkind.Ungrateful, unwilling to accept her fate, distrusting—all of it.Andrightfully so, she reminded herself.Butas her time inFelgrengrew longer, and with her introduction toViridis, her heart had softened along with her determination to leave.
Hadhe noticed?Hadhe admired her for it?Forgivenher for her initial behavior toward him?Shewasn’t sure if she deserved it.
Itwasn’t the physical attraction that confused her.Thatshe understood perfectly well, and had experienced it fully withGeyrand.Butshe couldn’t help but notice something was different here.Andher mind screamed it throughout her thoughts, her efforts to silence such revelations useless now that she had acted on her attraction.
Shefelt helpless and foolish.TheQueenhad warned her time and again about keeping her distance fromGeyrand.Shewas well aware, of course, of their affair, as any mother would realize, but how many times had she been told by theQueen,“Satisfyyour desires, but keep your heart to yourself.Youare its sole protector.”
Ashhad never really stopped to wonder why theQueenwas so adamant on her never falling forGeyrand.Butshe wondered about it now, in the pangs of lust forRevich, her consciousness finally admitting to something deeper than the desires of flesh.Aspark that flickered to life recently, whose origins she understood, but whose purpose she did not yet know.
“Whatis it you’re looking for,Ash?”
Thevoice of the man whom she had just spent an unknowable amount of time thinking about startled her in her incognizant state.Shejolted slightly, always easy to frighten, and she turned her head toward him.
Dammit.
Shewas going to get nothing done if he continued to look at her like that, arms crossed at his chest, sans cloak this time, his black vest striking and coordinated with his dark hair, flowing gracefully aside his face as if he was some marble statue—sole purpose to be admired for its beauty.
Turningback to the books before her, she inhaled sharply, trying desperately to vanquish the rising tides of devotion to this man, two sides of her warring just at his presence, and she was mortified at such admittance.
Settlingherself was not easy, but her will won out.Shereplied in casual flirtation, “Iseek a man.”Sheglanced at him alluringly, eyebrows raised in question, a one-sided smirk on her face. “Atall one.Butnot too tall.”
Theeasiest way out of the truth of her feelings was always the pretense, forever the feigning of confidence in who she was and what she was doing.
“Andhandsome?” he questioned, sliding his hands into his pockets, stepping away from the marble pillar, taking a few strides toward her, his eyes never leaving her face.
“Oh, yes.”Sheturned back to the shelved books, pulling one out, her heart throbbing in excitement as he neared, her head not able to even comprehend the title. “Veryhandsome.”
“Andstrong?Charming?”
Asif he had read her thoughts just moments before,Revichneared her side, his body radiating heat, andAshswore she witnessed the white roses bloom fuller at his presence.
