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“Sometimes you’re too good at letting people underestimate you.”
The Lake of the Gods, as it was called, was a massive attraction to locals and travelers. The deep, spring-fed, clear waters were that of legends. “You weren’t trying to access the lake, were you?” She laughed. The lake itself was said to have celestial properties, channeling the powers of the gods. The problem was that no one could touch the lake to prove it.
She had little tolerance for those who assumed she couldn’t be the weapons master,
This meant someone sought her for her ability to imbue weapons with magic—a weapon tailored to their fae court. No one in Bury knew she could forge magical weapons.
Suden fae were no joke. They were known for earth magic but were also, as most of the fae were, quite charming and seductive. Few knew that the most dangerous power wielded by earth fae was a type of mind shadow, seeping in and covering up memories with little more than a touch.
How had he found out about her in the first place? Her life had changed irrevocably before she could make a name for herself as a magical blacksmith, and in the last ten years, she’d only made magical weapons with the wild magic around Lake of the Gods.
He thought he could scare her into leading him to the weapons master. That he could brute force his custom order request. He’d yet to realize that she was both weapons master and fighter.
“Know your audience when you’re making grand promises.” She couldn’t help herself, adding, “I thought fae were supposed to be good at this whole charm and negotiation thing.”
“I’m here on behalf of the Suden Point because I am the Suden Point.”
He was a predator, gift-wrapped to distract while moving in for the kill.
He was nothing and everything she expected. Not that she’d spent much time dreaming about the Suden Point. She preferred not to think of the Compass Points at all.
A surefire way to know you were being manipulated was for someone to tell you they weren’t manipulating you. This was off to a great start.
The Suden Point may be many things—unfortunately, handsome was one—but he was not her ally. She couldn’t trust him, especially not with her secrets. She could barely believe she was at the point where she thought letting him take her to Compass Lake was a good option.
it made no difference when the mist crept through a village. The mist took everyone, Norden, Suden, Osten, Vesten, and human.
“Oh no, Rose, I’m not letting this go. You’re fae. I just don’t know how I missed it.”
I’ve never met anyone like you. I want to know more about you, Rose, and the only way I can think to earn that is by giving a little of myself.”
magic was much harder to fake than words.
“They see someone on the Suden Point’s arm as interesting. I doubt they see the merits of the woman herself.”
Six eyes darted to Rose, and the chaos once again sprang forward. “Who are you?” “Are you Uncle Luc’s wife?” “Do you have any cool powers?” “Want to play?”
“Rose, you have to know.” He faltered. “I hope you know I don’t care what kind of fae you are, or how many courts you belong to.”
You are amazing, Rose. You, as you are.”
She knew that the way he looked at her, like she was a gravitational force holding his undivided attention, was more than their fake relationship required. He saw her, he saw her strength and her pain, and he seemed to want to understand it all.
His eyes lit up. “Give me twenty minutes, and I’m all yours.”
A little breaking and entering, a bit of magic, and a lot of Norden history. I hope we have a thousand more nights like this.” His face sobered as he realized what he’d said, what he’d implied.
Rose took his hand. “There’s no one else I’d rather commit petty theft with,” she said as she squeezed it.
So much had changed for her in such a short time. The mist had taken Tara from her, though only temporarily, she hoped. She’d left the isolation of Bury to come back to the one place she’d run from. She was on the arm of the Suden Point as his fake lover. She knew the weapons she magically forged could stop the mist plague, though not heal those who had fallen to it. She’d also told the Suden Point, of all people, that she was the rightful Norden Point and able to wield the magic of two fae courts.
“You’re awake,” he said quietly. “So observant.” She couldn’t help the sarcasm in her reply,
I’m telling you not to spend too much time worrying about what the Compass Points or the fae courts will think. If you like him, which I think you do, focus on that, not the mess of what it means for the Norden and Suden Points to be in a relationship.”
Rose. But do me a favor. Don’t wait too much longer to tell him, alright? You don’t want to live with that kind of regret.”
“This is real,” she whispered.
“It’s been real for a while, Rose. I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”
If a cat could shrug, he did.
“I think this lake is ready for a scandal.” “Like the Norden Point and Suden Point sharing a bed?”
