Page 48 of Bound By Blood
"This seems like a simple solution. Like putting extra potatoes into a broth when it's too salty. It's so easy…and either it's rare and it was just lying around and you found it, or it is something else." She tapped her finger against the prism. "I think it's something else, isn't it?"
His brow furrowed. "It will protect you. You won't be bound to me or anyone."
"What is the cost of this magic, Ryul? The real cost? Traelan told me that those words will be almost compelled from me the more I feel for you. That there is no way around it. That eventually, I will have to say it. He never mentioned that any blood fae might see it even as an option. From what you and he have both said, it sounds as if it is a requirement. And if it is a requirement and it is not satisfied, that means someone is paying. And usually quite a lot."
He shuffled his feet, avoiding looking into her eyes. "It's a price worth paying."
"What's the price?"
She picked up the prism and turned it over in her hand. There were strands of something woven into the chain and sealed within it. Scrawled along the bottom in fine print was the statement, "I pass all costs of these bound words to the one whose hair is enclosed in this prism."
She held up the prism. "Is this your hair in it?"
"Possibly."
"Explain this to me."
He shrugged, then sighed, his shoulders dropping. "It's a transference prism. I don't know all the consequences that will come from using this to hold back those words, but this way, they won't harm you."
"And you think that would be acceptable? I don't want you to get hurt either."
"I can't imagine I would get hurt."
"It's a magical prism that transfers consequences! How could it not hurt you?"
"Well…" He looked up at the ceiling. "I don't know how to make this safe otherwise."
"It isn't safe!" She set the prism aside and set her hands on her waist. She almost started laughing then. "Ryul, I won't let you be risked like that."
"How else can I kiss you then? How else can I show you everything I want to show you?"
She ducked her chin, then rubbed her forehead. "There's something else too. And I probably should have told you sooner, but I thought you were going to tell me that we needed to part ways."
"What have I done or said that would make you think I would want to be away from you?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You said that I needed to hear you out. That usually means whatever follows is going to be bad."
"Oh…I just thought you were going to argue with me about using the prism. Which you did. Just not for the reasons I thought."
She gave him a small but sad smile. "Protecting me shouldn't get you hurt. Though the thought—that means everything to me."
"And you shouldn't have to give me a wish. Just being with you is enough for me."
"It's not how life works, though, and we shouldn't do something stupid just because we don't like something in life. Believe me, I know. I'm older than you."
He wrinkled his nose at her. "You can't be that much older."
She folded her arms. "But the other thing is that I will need to leave. Nan needs this place for her granddaughters. She said I can stay until I get on my feet, but it's going to get crowded here, and I don't know how Buttons will do. Or how they will respond to you. So I won't be here tomorrow night."
His eyes widened, all traces of amusement fleeing. "Where will you go?"
"I'm not sure yet. Probably just wander again. But I'll find some place where I can make you enough soup to finish paying—"
"No." He shook his head then stopped. "You can come stay with me."
"Stay with you?" She blinked. "How would that work? I barely know you. Won’t Quinn object—"
"I don’t care." He stepped closer, taking her hands in his once more. "It will just be us. If Quinn has an issue, I will address it."
