Page 157 of A Baron of Bonds
I had no real foretelling of what I’d face. Lia’s book was a careful history, not a guide, and Clairannia and Figuerah had never told me what to expect, as was tradition.
We were supposed to go in blind, without knowledge of what we’d see or how we’d prove our magic for each type of conduit.
I pulled a midnight blue throw from the foot of the bed and tucked it in around me. I didn’t want to get in without Rev, a ridiculous sentiment of romance, but I didn’t care. Our bed felt strange without him in it.
I leaned against the armrest, tucked in like a ball to the seat of the chair and let my eyes fall, the day’s events exhausting me past any more of my wandering thoughts.
I woke in bed. My back was pressed to Rev’s chest as his arm draped over me, keeping my body pulled to him. I turned in his grasp, snuggling up under his chin, breathing him in, and kissing his chest to wake him.
He gave the slightest stir, and that was all the opening I needed, sliding my leg over his hip and pushing my self closer, my desire taking the reins of all thought.
“Karus,” he rumbled, “you need to save your strength.”
“Somehow,” I lilted between kisses up his neck, “I think I can manage this and what the day has to offer.”
“I mean it.” He pulled on my chin, his eyes black as night. “There will be time to celebrate later. If you want.” He sighed, kissing my pout lightly. “One of these trials is more difficult than you know. You need to dress and eat a full breakfast. Then we’ll go.”
“Fine,” I sighed, untangling my leg from him, but not before catching a quick look at what I loved to see. “How late were you up last night? I don’t remember getting into bed.”
He sat up and rubbed his face. “Late. I brought you to bed only a few hours ago.”
“Baron Revich, you need a nap today.” I threw a clean shirt to the bed for him and dressed in my own clothes, nerves and excitement buzzing through my body.
By the end of the day, I’d be a conduit. I didn’t know which kind I’d choose. I planned to go through each trial and decide after—if I passed them all—which type of magic I felt I belonged to.
Dressed, we entered the dining hall, our breakfast laid out on the table, courtesy of Lia. All my favorites were there—cinnamon buns, meat pies filled with gravy, pears, and crumbly cheese.
Rev poured us tea and filled his plate with bacon, eggs, and strawberries.
“Why don’t you like cinnamon buns?” I asked, stuffing my mouth with dough still warm and soft, the icing from the treat coating my tongue.
“Too sweet.”
Pouting, I offered a bite on my fork. “Just try it. How long since you’ve had one?”
“I’ve tried them before. Don’t like ‘em. Besides,” he grinned, pointing his own fork at me, golden egg speared, “I get plenty of sweet from you.”
“Gross,” Philius muttered as he entered the dining hall, followed by Mychael, Rell, Renn, Talon, and Ilyenna.
I laughed and took the bite I had offered Rev.
Rell and Renn hurried to either side of me, sliding chairs out at the same time.
“Today’s the day!” Rell began.
Her sister followed with, “How nervous are you?”
“I’m surprisingly calm, actually. I’m more excited to be through them. I’ve been here a long time without taking the trials, and I feel ready.”
“How long will they take, Baron Revich?” Mychael asked, spooning eggs and toasted bread on his plate.
“It depends on the channeler, but I’ve found that most of them last all day, at times going into the evening.” He eyed me. “That was Clairannia because she was so stubborn. She refused to give up on the agricola trial.”
“How do you give up?” Philius asked, sitting across from Mychael and handing a plate of food to Ilyenna.
“You tap your conduit ring three times, return to the Baron, and you’ve failed that one.”
He glanced at me quickly before returning his eyes to his plate.
