The Wicked (Elder Races #5.5)(24)

Yes, I think I could grow to love you, she thought, as she looked at the back of his tousled head. I think I could grow to love you so much, I would do anything, give up anything, for you. So don’t back away from us. Give us time.

Of course she didn’t say any of that aloud. A sensible, sane person wouldn’t dream of saying any of that after spending just one single night with someone, however extraordinary that night had been.

So the new, trembling, fierce thing inside of her would keep silent for now, and watch, and pretend to be sensible and sane.

She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder. He stirred and rolled over, his tough face eased from sleep, and he gathered her into his arms. She went gladly, curling her tired, sore body to his. He cupped the back of her head, fitting her to his shoulder, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She stroked her flattened hand along his lean chest, which was bare of hair.

Then she drifted with him, lightly along the edge of sleep, until the smell of brewed coffee wafted up from the kitchen, and the morning sunlight shone full and bright.

Breakfast was another quick, simple affair of coffee, leftover chicken, cheese and crackers, and fruit. After carefully inspecting the sealed jars in the huge pantry, Derrick declared that he might have fresh-baked bread for them later in the day.

Derrick, Tony and Bailey all made a point of smiling at Olivia and doing a dozen little things that said they were welcoming her into the fold. She was warmed by it, not only for her sake, but also for Sebastian’s. They cared about him, and that spoke volumes for the quality of his character and leadership.

Dendera’s attitude remained the same, reserved but not unfriendly, and Steve kept himself aloof, which, as far as she was concerned, was just as well. If he tried to tell her any more negative gossip she might haul off and hit him.

Once they finished the morning meal, Derrick and Tony took care of cleaning up. The three symbologists gathered the first batch of hermetically sealed containers and headed down the path to the cottage. Sebastian and Bailey insisted on accompanying them.

“There’s no need for you to do that,” Dendera told them.

“There’s every need,” said Sebastian. In full sunlight, he looked suntanned and vital, his personality as forceful as ever. As always, he wore his sunglasses, but now Olivia could read the subtleties of his expression behind the barrier as he looked at her and gave her a slight smile. “Your safety is my responsibility, and I reserve the right to yank all of you out of there if things get out of control. Carling said to stay sharp and be careful, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Olivia smiled back at him. Then, as she turned away, she caught sight of Steve. He was staring at Sebastian with an expression of such naked hostility it caused her to stop in her tracks.

What on earth?

But in the next instant the expression was gone, leaving her to wonder if she had imagined the whole thing as Steve turned to follow Dendera down the path.

Finally, after months of hard work and planning, they approached their destination. The area around the cottage was overgrown with weeds. The building itself looked humble and ordinary, but tendrils of uncontained magic ghosted through the air.

Dendera took the lead and opened the cottage door. There was a large workroom just inside. It hadn’t been tidied after its last use.

Dendera said, “We’ll stack the containers in here until we fill them.”

Bailey and Sebastian remained wary, their eyes sharp. Olivia set the two containers she carried alongside the others. She straightened to assess the erratic magic calmly. She met Dendera’s gaze. “We’ll have to follow each thread back to its source.”

The other woman nodded. “Once we get those works contained, we’ll be able to pack up the rest of the collection at our leisure.” She took a deep breath. “For now it’s probably safest if we work in pairs.”

Olivia couldn’t help it. She looked at Sebastian, who said immediately, “I’m your partner.”

Perhaps it was silly to feel such happiness at his words. Certainly it was silly to read too much into it. Despite scolding herself to be sensible, she did both.

Dendera said, “Steve, you and I will pair up today.”

“Right,” said Bailey, as she bounced on the balls of her feet and looked around. Her long, elegantly pointed ears peeked through the curls of her short, tousled hair. “And I’ll…just…keep an eye on this room, shall I?”

“The only way to start doing this is to pick a magical thread and follow it,” said Olivia. She picked one of the strongest, most erratic magical threads and began to trace it to its source.

It led her down a hall, past rooms with filled bookcases. Sebastian followed on her heels. He stayed so close that she could sense his body heat on her bare arm. With an effort she had to turn her attention away from his presence and focus on the task at hand.

She followed the magical thread to a leather-bound book in a corner bookshelf.

“There you are,” she whispered as she squatted in front of it. With a careful, practiced eye, she mentally translated the archaic title on the faded leather spine. Instructions on Angelic Visitations and Demonic Summoning. “This is a medieval grimoire, a very old book of spells. The oldest books are always the most unruly.”

Sebastian asked in her ear, “What are you going to do about it?”

She wagged a finger gently in the air without looking at him. “I’m going to do my job, and you are not going to distract me. Either that or Bailey can come help me.”