Page 82 of A Touch of Poison
I removed the black gloves. “I’m sure you could’ve used the favour on something more worthwhile.”
“I’m sure I couldn’t have.” He kept his tone light and teasing, but an undercurrent ran through it, and I pulled on the first glove, giving it far more attention than needed. “Before you do.” He covered my hand, stopping me donning the second glove.
I stilled and stamped down any other reaction to his touch. He’d already eased my poison at lunch time, so this didn’t resonate with magic. And yet…
It was Bastian. The one I knew. The one who tangled me up so fucking easily.
“The other something,” he murmured and dipped into his pocket again.
This time he produced a ring. Silver toned metal but cooler than true silver. Platinum, perhaps? A clear stone shaped like a star. Smaller stones surrounded it in star-shaped settings. The jewels flashed with tiny sparks of rainbow light—they had to be diamonds.
I was already shaking my head before I realised. A platinum and diamond ring? I couldn’t…I couldn’t.
“It counters fae charm,” he went on in that same private voice. “I thought you could get rid of that necklace and everything it reminds you of.”
I fingered the pearls at my throat. Their weight dragged on me as though unCavendish constantly had a hand around my throat. I probably didn’t need it for the investigation anymore—Caelus knew what it looked like.
Yet, much as I wanted to get rid of it… “I can’t accept this. It’s too expensive. They’re diamonds, Bastian.”
“Arethey?” He gave the ring a wide-eyed look. “Thank the Stars for that, otherwise I’d have to pay the jeweller an unpleasant visit to ask why he didn’t make what I asked for. Please, Kat. Take the ring.” He held it out. “I had it made for you, so it’s not like I can return it.”
I tugged at the necklace and swallowed. Perhaps I could throw it on the fire. I should probably sell it—it had to be worth a lot—but I’d rather watch it melt. Did pearls burn?
“I’ll… borrow it. You can have it back when I leave.”
A muscle in his cheek twitched, and I thought he was going to tell me no. But he snorted a laugh. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, Kat.” He placed the ring in my hand. “But I won’t be accepting it back.”
“We’ll see,” I muttered as I slid it onto my middle finger. “A perfect fit.”
“Of course.” His gaze flicked to the necklace. “May I?”
“Please.”
He sucked in a quick breath, and I realised what I’d said. But he circled behind me and made no comment about how much he liked that word.
The world narrowed as he gathered my hair and placed it over my shoulder. The movement ghosted over my scalp, sending goosebumps chasing down my arms.
I helped hold my hair to one side and counted my breathing, forcing it deep and slow. Bastian’s exhalation tickled behind my ear.
I closed my eyes. I wouldn’t shiver. Mustn’t. Shouldn’t. I was sure the hairs on the back of my neck gave me away, though.
His fingertips feathered over my spine, pulling the necklace tight for an instant. I straightened, taut, breath held, waiting, waiting, waiting.
With a soft click, the tightness disappeared, and he gathered up the necklace.
That terrible weight was gone. I could breathe.
“There.” The word skimmed my sensitised skin, and I must’ve forgotten about control, because I shuddered, eyelids fluttering shut.
When I opened my eyes, he stood before me, closer than he should be, holding the necklace in the scant space between us.
“You’re free.”
Free.
But, no. Not completely. Not from my husband. The fact hung in the air, thick and heavy like cheap perfume.
We stood in it a long while, inhaling that ugly truth. Maybe it was its own kind of poison and if I took in enough, it would kill off my attraction to him. It must’ve destroyed his desire for me. Probably for the best.
