“I didn’t think I would come,” she said, her voice quiet and her mouth downturned. “But circumstances are forcing me to work faster than I wanted.”
Whatever that meant. My brow furrowed as I studied her, but I decided against pressing. Instead, I shrugged as I stepped back, opening the door wider and gesturing for her to enter.
“After you,” I said.
She hesitated only briefly before stepping inside, her eyes turning back to me as I stayed at the door. Her boots made faint squeaks on the stone floor. Her eyes darted around the room, lingering on the dusty shelves of books and the faint glow of the candle burning low on the kitchen table. She drew her cloak tighter, shivering slightly as the chill of the tower crept over her. She took a seat at the kitchen table, shivering as she drew her dark cloak tighter around her.
“Shall I leave the door open?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral, trying to convince her that she had nothing to fear from me.
She jumped, turning to face me where I still stood at the doorway. For a long moment, she stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then she shook her head. “I trust you.”
I raised an eyebrow, affected despite myself. Those three words hit me harder than they should have.Trust.It had been so long since anyone had spoken that word to me, so long since someone had seen me as anything more than a beast or a threat.
Slowly, I closed the door behind me, though I left it unlocked. No need to make her feel cornered. I moved to the kitchen table and took a seat, trying to appear as non-threatening as a man with claws buried beneath his skin could.
“Alright,” I said, leaning forward with my elbows on the table. “You’re here. Now, what?” I asked, trying to be gentle.
In response, the girl rummaged in her pocket, and my instincts tensed. When her hand emerged, she was holding a long, wicked dagger. She placed it on the kitchen table between us, in easy reach of her delicate looking, slender fingers.
The blade gleamed faintly in the candlelight. The hilt was adorned with intricate filigree, a pattern of curling leaves that seemed out of place on something so deadly.
“I thought you said you trusted me?” I raised an eyebrow, my voice laced with dry amusement.
“I do. But I am also a careful person,” the girl said dryly, running one finger over the filigree design on the knife hilt.
I cracked a smile despite myself, and I nodded. “Fair enough.”
“Now, what can I do for you, girl?”
She frowned. “Call me Seranni. Surely you haven’t forgotten?” She raised an eyebrow in challenge, and I shrugged. Ihadforgotten, but I wasn’t about to admit it.
“Well, Seranni, the hour is late, and I don’t get much sleep, so I’ll ask again. What do you want from the tower?”
She tilted her head, watching me as if gauging whether she’d made the right decision by coming here. I met her gaze evenly, letting the silence stretch until she finally spoke again.
“I want access to the mage’s books. Hismagicbooks.”
My jaw tightened at her words. Magic. The very thing that had cursed me, that had turned me into the creature I was now. I frowned. “Why?”
Her lips thinned and she shook her head. “My reasons are my own.”
“I cannot let you into the mage’s rooms.”
“Why not?”
I smirked. I leaned back in my chair, letting my amusement show. “My reasons are my own.”
She frowned, tapping her finger on her knife, before she sighed. “I need to hone my magic. There is no one else to teach me. The mage’s books are my only chance.” She looked at me. “Your turn.”
I sighed. “I’m keeping the mage’s books because I am trying to reverse a piece of magic.” I shook my head. “And that’s all I’ll say about that.”
Seranni frowned. “Don’t you trust me, Kael?”
I jumped. It had been so long since I’d heard my name come from another’s mouth…
It was such a simple thing, but it struck a chord deep within me. My name, spoken with no fear, no contempt—just curiosity and a hint of warmth.
I softened, despite myself. “I do. But it’s safer for us both this way.”
