the last twenty-four hours, shimmered over Raven Island, gently rustling and lifting everything in its brief wake.
Jade lifted her face to the sky. The tail end of the breeze played with the choppy length of her waiflike pixie haircut, a style that somehow beautifully complemented her tall, lithe frame and strong jaw. Her black tresses, height, and porcelain skin could have allowed Lucien to pass Jade off as his sister if he’d wanted to, but creating a sibling bond with anyone at Ravenstoke didn’t fit into Lucien’s plan. He rubbed at the sudden sting in his chest; he wouldn’t have been able to pull off the sibling relationship without cracking and giving himself away anyway.
Glancing at Lucien, Jade flashed a turquoise gaze full of empathy. “That warmer breeze is a good sign of the second phase of this storm,” she shared. “You should not have any trouble making Sophie believe the weather will keep her on Raven Island for at least a week. Maybe more.”
“Good,” Lucien muttered. “I might need the extra time to recover from my fuckup.”
When Lucien went to bring down the ax again, Magnus grabbed the handle and wrested it out of his grip. Lucien spun and got in his friend’s face, but Magnus didn’t back off one inch.
“What in the hell is the matter with you?” Magnus hissed softly, clearly keeping his comment for their ears only. “You were successful last night. Sophie is more curious than she ever was. I don’t know why you’re swinging this ax like it’s a guillotine and looking dark enough to make me think it’s your own head you’re fantasizing about chopping off.”
Lucien couldn’t keep the tightness out of his mouth. “I moved too fast with her.” Admitting he’d screwed up on day one choked in his throat. “It was a rookie mistake. Maybe one that ends this before it begins.”
Shaking his head, Magnus put the ax on the ground. “She’s a real person, Lucien, and so are you. You got caught up in her for a minute and lost yourself. It’s human. You can’t have thought you could do this completely devoid of feelings.”
Heat crept up Lucien’s neck. He couldn’t stand Magnus’s scrutiny.
“Son of a bitch,” Magnus murmured. “You did think that.” He whistled soft and low in a way that worked Lucien’s last nerve. “That’s shockingly shortsighted on your part, my friend. Not like you at all.”
Lucien gritted his teeth. “I have to think quickly and course correct.”
“Or you could give it all up and recognize how terribly destructive a plan this is,” Magnus offered instead.
There were days Lucien had to remind himself repeatedly that he wasn’t actually a violent person. Right now, he barely held his clenched fist at his side. “If you don’t have anything legitimate to contribute, friend ”—he snatched the ax back into hand—“then you are welcome to swim your goddamn way back to the mainland and never set foot on Raven Island again.”
Magnus leaned in and bared his teeth right back. “If you’re not careful, you will bring to fruition that solitary, brooding vision you have of yourself wandering this damn castle alone. Your revenge and Josh’s ghost won’t keep you nearly as warm as you think.” His gaze slid over Lucien’s shoulder, and his pupils suddenly dilated. “Now you’d better fucking figure out your next move in about thirty seconds, because our guest of honor just stepped out the front door.” Magnus jerked his head, and Lucien looked up to find Sophie traipsing across the soggy lawn.
Jesus . Lucien swallowed thickly. Back in her own clothing, Sophie was covered from top to bottom. Blonde tresses rioted wildly around her face. Her blue eyes glinted as if they were the ocean filled with crystals, and her freshly scrubbed pink cheeks, makeup-free face, and easy smile arrested Lucien in place. Rays of sunlight seemed to beam from within her, and Lucien wanted nothing so much as to sink into her and lose himself in her
Jade lifted her face to the sky. The tail end of the breeze played with the choppy length of her waiflike pixie haircut, a style that somehow beautifully complemented her tall, lithe frame and strong jaw. Her black tresses, height, and porcelain skin could have allowed Lucien to pass Jade off as his sister if he’d wanted to, but creating a sibling bond with anyone at Ravenstoke didn’t fit into Lucien’s plan. He rubbed at the sudden sting in his chest; he wouldn’t have been able to pull off the sibling relationship without cracking and giving himself away anyway.
Glancing at Lucien, Jade flashed a turquoise gaze full of empathy. “That warmer breeze is a good sign of the second phase of this storm,” she shared. “You should not have any trouble making Sophie believe the weather will keep her on Raven Island for at least a week. Maybe more.”
“Good,” Lucien muttered. “I might need the extra time to recover from my fuckup.”
When Lucien went to bring down the ax again, Magnus grabbed the handle and wrested it out of his grip. Lucien spun and got in his friend’s face, but Magnus didn’t back off one inch.
“What in the hell is the matter with you?” Magnus hissed softly, clearly keeping his comment for their ears only. “You were successful last night. Sophie is more curious than she ever was. I don’t know why you’re swinging this ax like it’s a guillotine and looking dark enough to make me think it’s your own head you’re fantasizing about chopping off.”
Lucien couldn’t keep the tightness out of his mouth. “I moved too fast with her.” Admitting he’d screwed up on day one choked in his throat. “It was a rookie mistake. Maybe one that ends this before it begins.”
Shaking his head, Magnus put the ax on the ground. “She’s a real person, Lucien, and so are you. You got caught up in her for a minute and lost yourself. It’s human. You can’t have thought you could do this completely devoid of feelings.”
Heat crept up Lucien’s neck. He couldn’t stand Magnus’s scrutiny.
“Son of a bitch,” Magnus murmured. “You did think that.” He whistled soft and low in a way that worked Lucien’s last nerve. “That’s shockingly shortsighted on your part, my friend. Not like you at all.”
Lucien gritted his teeth. “I have to think quickly and course correct.”
“Or you could give it all up and recognize how terribly destructive a plan this is,” Magnus offered instead.
There were days Lucien had to remind himself repeatedly that he wasn’t actually a violent person. Right now, he barely held his clenched fist at his side. “If you don’t have anything legitimate to contribute, friend ”—he snatched the ax back into hand—“then you are welcome to swim your goddamn way back to the mainland and never set foot on Raven Island again.”
Magnus leaned in and bared his teeth right back. “If you’re not careful, you will bring to fruition that solitary, brooding vision you have of yourself wandering this damn castle alone. Your revenge and Josh’s ghost won’t keep you nearly as warm as you think.” His gaze slid over Lucien’s shoulder, and his pupils suddenly dilated. “Now you’d better fucking figure out your next move in about thirty seconds, because our guest of honor just stepped out the front door.” Magnus jerked his head, and Lucien looked up to find Sophie traipsing across the soggy lawn.
Jesus . Lucien swallowed thickly. Back in her own clothing, Sophie was covered from top to bottom. Blonde tresses rioted wildly around her face. Her blue eyes glinted as if they were the ocean filled with crystals, and her freshly scrubbed pink cheeks, makeup-free face, and easy smile arrested Lucien in place. Rays of sunlight seemed to beam from within her, and Lucien wanted nothing so much as to sink into her and lose himself in her
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