Effie blinked, wondering how much Reyna knew about her past.
“What’s holding you back?” Reyna whispered, her green eyes kind.
“I couldn’t stand the rejection. Not from him. Not again.” She hadn’t meant to say the words out loud, the raw honesty hinting at more than she was ready to share.
Reyna was quiet for a minute as she considered what Effie had revealed. “I’ve only known the Guardian a short time, but I know with certainty he is a man of honor. If he turned you down, it is only because his honor compelled him to do so.”
Lucian had said as much when he’d pulled away from her. He hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her altered state of mind. Hope began to flicker in her chest as Effie stole another glance at Lucian. Is that really the only reason he stopped me?
Effie’s breath hitched as she studied his face. He still hadn’t shaved, the light beard softening some of the hard angles of his face. It wasn’t enough to disguise the aura of violence that always surrounded him. All he was doing was eating dinner and he was still the most formidable man she’d ever laid eyes on.
That was saying something considering who her friends were.
Effie was fooling herself believing she’d ever be satisfied with a gentle, soft-spoken man. She was far too drawn to warriors and their strength. The way they unapologetically protected those they considered theirs, even from themselves. For her, the kind of safety they offered was potent. She’d spent far too long hiding from those who would harm her.
Lucian frowned at whatever Kael said, and Effie looked away before he could catch her staring at him again.
Reyna gave her another knowing smile, and Effie couldn’t help but wonder if she was right. If the circumstances had been different . . . would Lucian have given in?
Chapter 6
Effie woke early, eager to return to the citadel and share what they had learned. She’d been granted accommodations far grander than any she’d had before, being treated as both a member of the Kiri’s court and a Keeper in her own right.
It was odd. She still wasn’t quite used to her new station, but Effie wasn’t going to complain about sleeping on an actual mattress or with a soft blanket. Not after years of being made to sleep on the floor with little more than damp rags to cover herself.
Granted, that was a long time ago, but one never really forgets to appreciate little comforts when they’ve had to live without.
She took a final glance around the chamber. It was filled with expensive blue and silver furnishings. Her eyes lingered on the numerous antiques lining the shelves. Gilded picture frames, miniature, highly detailed figurines, a music box with an intricate mosaic on the top, and a pale white bust of some woman who must have been important to warrant such a tribute. And that was just what she could identify from here.
Mother, it would take hours to properly dust all those trinkets. Effie’s nose tickled just thinking about dealing with the arduous task. A year ago, she would have been the one responsible for it. I suppose being a Keeper isn’t all bad, considering.
With a soft laugh, she shook her head and tightened the straps of her bag. Satisfied she wasn’t forgetting anything, Effie pulled open the door, freezing momentarily when she spotted Kael waiting for her outside.
“Good morning.”
He flashed her his dimpled grin. “Morning.”
“Do you often wait outside my door?” she asked, only half-joking.
Kael shook his head. “Lucian didn’t feel comfortable leaving you unguarded in an unfamiliar place.”
“Were you here all night?” she asked, thinking it wasn’t fair he should look so good after a night without sleep.
“No. I replaced Lucian sometime around dawn. He wanted to check in with the Triumvirate before we returned.”
Effie hadn’t known that either of the Guardians had been posted there. She felt oddly touched by their concern.
“Is this something you two do often?”
“There’s no need at the citadel. No place in all the realms is more protected. Why?” he asked, his grin filled with mischief. “You doing things in your room you’re embarrassed about being overheard?”
Effie was quick to shake her head. “No, I save my humiliation for more public places. Pubs. Hallways. Dining halls.”
Kael chuckled. “Thanks for that.”
She fell into step beside him, their banter light as they moved through the keep.
“Any more visions?” he asked, as they came upon the main staircase.
“No. Not since we left the citadel.”
Kael nodded, as if anticipating the answer.
“Kael, would you mind if I asked you something about your powers?”
He matched her hushed tone, his eyes teasing. “They aren’t a secret, little warrior. There’s no need to whisper.”
“So little is widely known about the Brotherhood, I wasn’t sure it would be polite to ask.”
Kael shrugged. “There are few secrets between the Brotherhood and the Keepers. What do you want to know?”
“Well . . . is that something all of you can do? That thing with your eyes?” she asked.
“Is it the Guardians you want to know about or a certain one in particular?” he asked, his grin widening.
Not him too. The last thing she wanted was another person invested in her interest in Lucian. There’d been far too much of that already.
“It just made me realize I don’t really know what you guys can do, outside of, you know . . . killing things.”
Kael laughed. “Yes, I can do that too, although Lucian’s gift is stronger than mine.”
“What was he doing?”
“Inspecting the essence of the area, trying to see if he could find the presence of any corruption that would still be invisible to mortal eyes.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Guardians have the ability to see the true form of all living things. It’s what allows us to see the strands that tie all life together, and if we want, to transform them. If there had been sign of corruption, he’d have seen it like a stain on whatever he was looking at.”
“Transform them how?”
“Well, Lucian is the best of us. He can create things on the spot, practically weaving them out of thin air.”
“Like weapons?” Effie asked, recalling how she’d thought his weapon had been made of smoke during the angcerta fight.
“Exactly.”
“And you can’t?”
Kael shrugged. “I can, but it takes me far longer, and much more concentration. It’s not a skill I’m able to use mid-battle, as he does.”
“I see,” Effie murmured. “Is that all?”
“Is that not impressive enough?” Kael teased.
Effie blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
Kael stopped her. “No need to apologize. We are also the only beings in Elysia capable of creating portals—and hiding them.”
Effie’s mind was racing with this new information. The Guardians were much more powerful than she’d realized. Their abilities weren’t only tied to the battlefield. They could actually manipulate and transform the world around them, even to the extent they could hide things in plain sight. And those were just the tricks she knew about. With magic such as that, there was no telling what else the Guardians could do.