Broken Souls and Bones (Stonegate, #1)

by L.J. Andrews

Unbidden, the touch of his hands on her skin, the wince of pain on her features, brought another shock of rage to my blood. I forced my steps to a halt, gathering my damn senses. What was I planning to do? Take her from Baldur and…what? Protect her? Shield her?

To claim something as his—a strike, a kill, a horn of ale—Ashwood tapped whatever he wanted three times.

I blamed my craft, but there was something more, a pull toward Roark Ashwood that burned the words of his language into my mind. Like my own magic needed me to unravel anything about the man, and I could not help but want to learn the secrets he kept beneath his mask of cruelty.

For a breath, Roark seemed stunned I understood. There wasn’t time or desire to explain how his gestures resonated within me, as though the words were felt, not studied on his fingers.

“You’ve done something to dig under his skin, and I must know what it was, for he is the most infallible, unruffled ass I’ve ever met.”

“How do they talk so fast?” Kael’s irritated grumble came from my back. “Lyra hardly pauses to read the hand speak.” “Sometimes souls just understand each other, Darkwin,” Emi returned.

I thought too damn much about the way her skin, when it touched me, no matter how briefly, lingered like venom I wanted to drink again and again.

I shook my head and squeezed his palm three times. He drew in a sharp breath and covered my heart, gently patting my skin, once, twice, three times. He was mine. And I was his.

You above everything. His words moved against my face. Burn it all if it means you still live.