Page 115 of Their Reckless Thief
They could handle it. I had to trust that. I rested my head on Luca’s strong chest and tried to ignore the pain, the fear in my gut.
He turned and sprinted down another corridor, his shadows swirling around us like a protective cocoon cutting through the mist and magic that clung to the air. I was still in shock from the impact of the fall, the glass biting into my skin with every movement, but Luca moved with precision and purpose. His grip was secure, and despite the chaos surrounding us, I felt oddly safe in his arms.
We reached the outer edge of the auction hall’s wards, and the moment we crossed the invisible barrier, I felt the oppressive magic lift.
“Hold on,” Luca whispered, his breath hot against my ear. His arms tightened around me, and before I could ask what he meant, the world around me shifted.
It was as if we were sucked through a vortex. One moment, we were in the Wraith territory, surrounded by mist and shadows, and the next, the oxygen thinned, and I felt like I was being torn through space.
Luca’s grip never faltered, but my stomach lurched, my vision blurring as everything around us twisted and bent in on itself. The sensation was terrifying… like being caught in the pull of a storm, weightless and out of control.
Then, just as quickly as it started, it stopped.
We landed with a soft thud on solid ground, the world snapping back into focus. We were in Vincenzo’s mansion. I felt weak, and my mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened. Veilstepping was like being thrust through dimensions.
“Come on,” Luca urged, his voice tight but controlled. He was still holding me. “You’re hurt.”
The adrenaline dulled my senses, but Luca moved with urgency. He carried me to a small, sterile room tucked away in the mansion, clearly set up for emergencies like this. Medical supplies lined the walls, and a simple bed sat in the center.
He set me down with a gentleness that would’ve given me butterflies if I wasn’t in so much pain.
35
LUCA
I wasn’t thinking.
All I knew was that I had to get Celeste out of the chaos, out of the danger. The moment that incubus grabbed her and thrown her through that glass wall, something inside me had snapped. Watching her now… shards embedded deep in her skin, blood trailing along her body, was tearing me apart.
I wasn’t supposed to care this much. But I fucking did. My hands trembled as I tried to stay steady. I undressed her gingerly, focused only on removing each jagged piece of glass from her delicate skin.
She winced, her face tight with pain, but somehow, she still managed to summon a bit of her usual wit. “Well, I didn’t think this is how I’d finally get you to take my clothes off.”
I almost smiled. But the moment passed too quickly, and before I could think of a response, she continued. “I should have known that you’d never willingly take my clothes off in normal circumstances. I obviously repulse you. Why do you feel the need to protect me? Are you just following orders?”
Her words stopped me cold. I wasn’t sure how to answer. She didn’t deserve the half-truths I was used to giving people. So Istayed quiet, focusing on the task, pulling another piece of glass from her arm, careful not to cause more pain.
She winced again, this time letting out a soft gasp. “Come on, please talk. I need a distraction.”
I hesitated before pulling out another shard. “No one could ever be repulsed by you, Celeste.”
That shut her up. Her eyes widened, the playful glint vanished, and something raw and vulnerable took its place. I kept my focus on her skin, on the glass. That was safer than staring into her eyes.
“Have you ever been in love?” she asked softly, curiously.
I shook my head, not trusting my voice.
“Why not?” she pressed. “You must have women lining up to be with you. You look like a fucking Greek god.”
Her words, casual as they were, sent a warmth through me that I had no business feeling. I shut it down quickly. “I’ve never allowed anyone to get that close to me.”
“Why?”
She was persistent, I’d give her that.
“Because I’m dangerous.” I didn’t sugarcoat it. Didn’t hide the truth behind more walls. “And… love is dangerous.”
Her eyes softened, and she winced again as I pulled another shard from her leg. “You’re not that dangerous. Not to me, anyway.”
