Completely unaware he had changed.
Lord Belshazzar’s exposed skin was dark red, the color of pooled blood. Two black curling horns the size of my forearm protruded from the top of his forehead, curling around the hood of his coat to point behind him. The ends of his horns looked sharper than any sword. His fangs were bared when he opened his mouth, stating in a bored tone, “Other than I’m no longer being snowed on and I’m in a cave now, nothing happened. You’re safe to come through.”
I shut my mouth. I wasn’t surprised by this.
Lord Cato choked. “Fuck, he looks like the devil.”
The Overlord’s black brows puckered. “What?”
I pointed at my forehead. “You’ve got a little something right there, my lord.” Understatement. “And your skin may have seen a little too much sun.”
Master Niallan snickered under his breath.
Lord Belshazzar’s eyes snapped down to his fisted hands holding the handles of his luggage. His horns were on full display with his head lowered, a sight to behold.
Those horns were magnificent.
Long moments passed.
All while he stared at his hands.
His head eventually lifted. The lord stared right into my eyes. That intense blue gaze scoured my neutral expression. His brows puckered, but he quickly turned his regard to the shocked lords.
He stated calmly, “Whatever this is, it doesn’t hurt. Master Niallan’s telling the truth. Get your asses moving. It’s warm over here.”
Chapter Twelve
Kimber
“Is she coming around?”
“I think so.”
“About time, too.”
The last voice convinced me to open my eyes. I knew it was Master Dorian, being an ass as usual.
“There you are.” Lunella let out a breath of relief. “You scared us.”
My hand shook as I lifted it to my forehead. “Scared you?”
Jallina appeared in my field of view. “You smacked your forehead on the ground when you pitched forward.”
Master Dorian folded his arms over his massive chest. “Idiot.”
“That doesn’t help anyone, Dorian,” Tymon said.
He swept a large hand at me. “She’s fine. I’m—”
Master Dorian didn’t finish his thought. Instead, he looked fuzzy, distant. He tipped his head up and stared at the ceiling for a moment.
A slow, strange smile slid over his face, the kind brought on by a memory. Something pleasant. His face turned wistful and a little sad.
I looked at Tymon, who shrugged.
“Master Dorian?” Tymon asked.
He snapped back to the present, but a touch of the memory stayed with him and softened his features. “I’m going.” Spinning on his heel, he marched out.
I was confused until I turned my head to watch him leave.
Magnificent view of his ass…
I groaned.
“Would you like something for the pain?” Jallina asked, reaching for her purse.
If only that were the reason that I was groaning. Waving her off, I looked back up the ceiling. “What happened after I passed out?”
Jallina put her bag down. “I made… the others leave, and sent my sister to find help at the temple.”
“I answered the door.” Tymon sat down, “luckily. We were able to contain this to just Lunella, Jallina and Jennila. Dorian doesn’t know the full story, but we had to tell him something when he found us pulling into the stable with the horse and carriage.”
Jallina took my hand. “I am sorry, Kimber. I didn’t want to tell them about this. But I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t leave a temple master passed out in a horse—”
I groaned. “Did I really fall into horseshit?”
“You missed by a hair’s breadth,” she admitted, biting her lips.
I giggled. My head hurt when I did, but I giggled anyway. My first semi-public preview as Breaker of the Spine, and I almost landed in a pile of horseshit.
“Please, tell me Master Dorian didn’t hear that part?”
“NO!” Lunella gasped, her own laugh cutting through her word. “No, no. Lord, no. He thinks you tripped while you were out having an ill-advised drink with the sisters.”
I let out a breath. “Thank gods.” I glanced around. “Where’s Elex?”
“He went to bed after seeing you were safe.” Jallina smiled and patted my hand. “He said he’s been working entirely too long and needed sleep.”
Lunella placed a hand on Jallina’s shoulder. “Thank you, my dear. Please, it’s time for you to go home. Your mate is waiting for you, and you need sleep.”
Jallina nodded. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Before she could pull her hand away, I squeezed it. “Wait. You and…”
Her eyes lit up, and soul-deep happiness leapt to light there. “We were inspired by you and Elex breaking down the wall. It’s been amazing.”
My eyes narrowed, considering her. “Mates…or…”
“Soul mates.”
I squealed and yanked her into an awkward hug. “Oh, yay! Yay! Will you have a Sealing Ceremony?”
“Yes, and I expect you to stand with me.”
“Of course!”
Tymon took Jallina’s elbow and led her to the door. “I’ll take you home. We’ll tie my horse to the back of the carriage, and I’ll ride back.”
The two of them chatted as they headed out the door, leaving Lunella and me alone.
The temple master inclined her head. “Are you truly all right?”
“I am. I would not have been able to stop that tremor if Jallina and Drez hadn’t been there.” I gasped and slapped a hand on my mouth. I hadn’t meant to say his name. I didn’t want to give him away.
A small laugh escaped Lunella. “Don’t worry, Kimber. No one is going to find out who they are from me. They are good people, and you are smart for asking them to report to you. Most of us here have long lost contact with loved ones and friends. We shouldn’t have, but—”
“Drez and Jallina are two of my and Elex’s oldest friends. I don’t feel right asking them for this, but at the same time, I don’t know how else to remain a part of the city.”
“You’re a smart woman, Kimber.” Lunella sat at the end of the infirmary bed. “Now. What in the name of the God’s green garden happened? Jallina kept saying you didn’t have enough power to use your magic.”
“I didn’t…” My forehead wrinkled. “It was the strangest thing. I could feel the magic, and I could feel what I needed to do, but the strength just wasn’t there. As soon as both Drez and Jallina connected with me, it was all there. I mean, do I need a booster or something? But how would I have been able to stop the other one early this week without help?”
Lunella cocked her head. “Jallina said you felt like you didn’t have power when she touched you.”
After I tossed the covers back, I swung my feet over the side of the bed. “I know that power and magic are different, but why wouldn’t I have enough power to use the magic? That doesn’t make sense—”
“After a massive expenditure of power, you have to restore your strength.” She handed me a robe and pair of slippers.
I put the slippers on the floor and slid my feet in. “No, I get that. And I’ve been taking care of myself. Healthy meals, plenty of rest, lots of fresh air—”
She twisted her head to look at me. “Sex.”
“What? Jallina said something about that too…”
“You can be starving and exhausted and suffocating, but if you’ve had sex recently, your power is strong.” Lunella’s eyes went wide. “Wait. You mean you don’t know your power in magic is fueled by sex?”
I stared at her, blank but confused. “What do you mean?”
Lunella scrubbed a hand down her face. “Your parents did you no favors by having you signed out of your defensive magic classes. You really don’t know the power and sex connection?”
“Apparently not…”
Looking around, Lunella shook her head. “Not here. Oh, gods, not here. We don’t need anyone to know you don’t know this. Let’s… let’s talk on the roof garden.”
She offered her hand, and I took it, pulling myself off the bed. I tugged the robe around me, and Lunella led me out of the infirmary through the dorms to a stairwell in the backmost corner of the building.