The Last Warrior (Shifters Unbound #13) - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,29
the rest, licking icing sugar from his fingers.
There was something in what he and Lily had said, to enjoy themselves for the moment. If there was no danger now, make the most of the time. Better than hiding behind walls and brooding.
Rhianne admitted to herself that it was simple to enjoy the day with Ben. He had mastered the art of relaxation. Soon she was conversing easily with him, the worry of the future forgotten for a while.
Yes, it was easy to be with Ben. Too easy. Rhianne let down her guard and told him all kinds of things about herself before realizing it, including her regret that she had far less power than her mother. She didn’t mind so much for herself, but she feared she disappointed Lady Aisling. She’d also worried that her lack of power might have begun the wedge between her father and mother.
“Nah,” Ben said. “Lots of kids think their parents’ breakup is their fault, but they’re wrong. When a couple is that unhappy, it’s about a hell of a lot more than what the children were doing.”
“I know that intellectually.” Rhianne tapped her temple, then touched her chest. “But in here, I’m still the child who saw their incredulity when I couldn’t perform the smallest of magical tasks without effort.”
“Again, not your fault. Magical ability is born into you. They should blame their own genetics, not you.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“It is true. Now, no more depressing talk. Cookie?” Ben held up a biscuit studded with bits of chocolate.
Rhianne smiled and accepted.
It seemed as though no time had passed before twilight fell. Ben and Rhianne had walked everywhere, listening to street musicians, buying more trinkets, stopping for coffee and then a beer. After the ale, Ben took Rhianne to another restaurant, this one dark and elegant. He knew the person at the door here too, a man this time, and they were brought to a candle-lit table in the back.
After more incredible food, Ben led her to another shop, but instead of going inside, he took the stairs to the floor above it, balancing the bags.
“I rented a storage room up here.” He pulled keys from his front pocket. “I want to stash our stuff before we go dancing. We’ll pick it up again after.”
“Go dancing?”
“You know. At a club. Not a Shifter one, though. I can’t imagine what would happen if I brought in a Tuil Erdannan. They’d scent Faerie on you before you got in the door and all hell would break loose. I mean, all Shifters would break loose. Best not to risk it.”
Ben ushered her into a basic room with four walls and a high window. Shelves lined the walls, holding opaque boxes with colorful lids.
“What is all this?” Rhianne asked in curiosity.
Ben set the packages of things they’d bought in a vacant space and opened the nearest box to show her. “Things I’ve collected over the years. Should probably get rid of most of it.”
He pulled out a smaller box and removed the lid. Inside lay a string of diamonds surrounding a glittering, blood-red stone that had to be a ruby.
Rhianne stared in astonishment and brushed the necklace with a shaking finger. The stones were cold, belying the fire they held.
“Where on earth did you find this?”
Ben shrugged. “Russia. The empress gave it to me, oh, two hundred fifty years ago? Catherine, her name was.”
Rhianne had no idea where Russia was or who its empress had been, but she did know that this necklace must be worth much. “You keep this, in here, in a box?” She glanced at the worn room and the door that had only one small lock.
“Why not?” Ben tucked the necklace away and the room lost color. “Who would look for something like that in here? Besides, no one crosses the threshold that I don’t want to.”
“You’ve warded it?” Rhianne scanned the walls but saw no sign of magic sigils, visible or hidden.
“Not really. There’s a ley line under the shop downstairs I tap into to cast a glam. Humans ignore this place. So do Shifters, come to think of it. Not that they’d invade my privacy. Shifters respect other people’s stuff.”
Rhianne regarded the boxes with new respect as Ben opened another one.
“Here we go.” He lifted out a string of tiny sapphires that flashed in the wan light. “Wear this tonight.”
Rhianne blinked. The stones were a deep blue that would go perfectly with her tunic. “Are you sure?”